DR. DREW - Why Do Women Stay in Polygamist Sects?

We are going to catch up on our Dr. Drew, then stick with him daily. Thought and Comments Below! We sincerely want to hear from former or current FLDS women. Use Anonymous to feel comfortable if you wish. 

IF YOU HAVE TO PICK AND CHOOSE, WATCH THESE AND THE FLICKS BELOW ON BILL MAHER AND WARREN JEFFS TRIAL TAPE.

Some background on the ladies you'll see.

CATHY JO NICHOLSON - was raised in a polygamous household where Warren Jeffs was her school teacher.  She eventually escaped that life.  Cathy Jo is with is here today for a discussion of the FLDS church.  R – According to the affidavit investigators at the Eldorado, Texas compound observed a practice in which  female children of child bearing age (13 or 14 years of age) are “spiritually married to a male adult member of the church.”  As a former member is this surprising to you?  “No, not at all, at least not in recent years.  Since Warren took over for his father this became a more prevalent practice.  Meryl Jessop has taken the reins while Warren is in jail.  Meryl became notorious for giving his very young beautiful daughters up to the prophets.  I know of several of his daughters who were given to Rulon Jeffs when he was on his death bed.  This was done to supposedly seal his place in heaven and then these women were inherited by Warren Jeffs when his father passed the monarchy to him.”  R – Also according to this affidavit children were denied food and forced to sit inside closed closets as punishment.  When you were a member of the FLDS does this sound like his brand of discipline?  “Definitely – at that time he (Jeffs) was not the prophet but he did send down his decree of ‘today we fast and also tomorrow.’  I remember thinking to myself it’s so much easier after the third day to ignore your hunger.  He would beat the boys and close the girls in.  This did not go on in my private home but at school.  We needed to mind the headmaster (Warren Jeffs).  The fasting took place throughout the community.”  R – The raid was the result of a 16 year old girl’s call to a family violence shelter.  When she called she used someone else’s cell phone and whispered.  FLDS leaders told her that if she left or ran away she would be found and locked up.  R- When you escaped what did you think would happen to you?  “I believe they still tell those young women ‘they are free to leave but you’ll never see us again or have any support from us.’  “You’re not free to go when you have no resources, or outside information which you can study or become familiar with.”  There are virtual walls up, ‘yes you can step across the border and be free (which is what I did) but those virtual walls and threats of hell and eternal damnation are very strong and scary to these women.”  I’m so grateful to Texas and Utah for convicting Warren Jeffs and the young Wall girl who stepped forward and now this young 16 year old girl who has yet to be determined.  I’m so grateful that Texas has undertaken this huge task and done it so diplomatically so far.  My sister is in Colorado City…  I have family members whose whereabouts are unknown.  I only cry out if anybody knows of the Nicholson family – sisters and brothers.” 

LAURIE ALLEN - was born into the infamous and violent LeBaron polygamous sect. Her uncle Ervil LeBaron killed 28 people, and became known as the Mormon Manson. Her cousin Jacqueline Tarsa LeBaron is on the FBI's Most Wanted list. When she was eight, a polygamist kidnapped Laurie from Chihuahua, got in some trouble with the law, and eventually fled to Central America, keeping her as his interpreter. Laurie fought off the religious indoctrination, escaped at age sixteen, and found passage back to the United States. Fluent in Spanish and dedicated to freedom and human rights, she earned a college degree and went on to film school. BANKING ON HEAVEN exposes a cult similar to the one that nearly absorbed her when she was very young and vulnerable.Now Laurie Allen is a filmmaker with a vision and a goal. Her background makes her the one filmmaker who could write and  produce BANKING ON HEAVEN, a documentary about the abuse and corruption inherent in America’s polygamous sects.

(Source: CNN: Video and Cathy Jo Nicholson Bio; Bankingonheavon.com for Lauri Allen )
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