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Tuesday 15 May Man with five wives and 29 children faces polygamy trial
By Simon Davis in Los Angeles

THE first polygamy trial for nearly 50 years in Utah, the home of the Mormon church, formally opened yesterday.

Utah's 30,000 polygamists have been quietly tolerated by the authorities in recent decades on the implicit condition that they do not publicly promote their way of life. But Tom Green, 52, who lives with his five wives and 29 children in caravans near Salt Lake City, broke this accord with his outspoken campaigning for polygamy.

He drew attention to himself by appearing on television shows including Jerry Springer's and declaring that polygamy is a valid religious practice. Speaking yesterday as jury selection began Green, 52, said: "You stick your head out of the hole, the government will shoot it off."

He is charged with four counts of bigamy and also welfare fraud and could be sentenced to 25 years in jail if convicted. Green also faces a separate trial at a later date for alleged child rape in connection with beginning a relationship with one of his wives when she was 13.

The family has vowed to stay together if Green is sent to prison, and his wives have professed their love for the man whom they call their "spiritual husband". Lee Ann Beagley, one of the wives, said: "We feel that we're good parents." Linda Kunz, another wife, said: "We're as committed to each other as we are to Tom."

The family has so many children that they are organised into teams for household tasks and meal times.Three of Green's wives are pregnant, and he said he plans births in groups so his children have siblings their own age to play with.

The wives are in their twenties and married Green when they were teenagers. Green believes he is being made a scapegoat by Utah authorities. He said: "It's been the unwritten rule for 50 years in Utah: 'You'll pretend you don't exist and we'll pretend you don't exist'."

Historically, the legal response to polygamy has been influenced by public opinion. Up until 1950, police systematically raided polygamist communities and many men were imprisoned. The raids sparked outrage because they split up families, and while the public did not necessarily condone polygamy, the wellbeing of children was considered paramount. The raids ended.

In recent years many women have fled plural marriages and told tales of systematic abuse, incest and child rape, fuelling a growing public perception that the polygamist lifestyle has gone unchecked for too long. A spokesman for the Utah Department of Human Services said: "We don't infringe on religious beliefs. But we are concerned when it comes to the safety of children."

Polygamy began in Utah when members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or Mormons, settled in Salt Lake City. These early followers took several wives, arguing that God required them to do so because some Old Testament prophets had more than one wife. Polygamy was not tolerated outside the Church and in 1890 the Church itself banned the practice.

Polygamy was prohibited in the Utah constitution in 1896. Those who insisted on continuing the practice broke away and formed secular communities. The communities still exist, with entire towns made up of polygamists. Most are in remote parts of the desert, are self-supporting and have little contact with the outside world.

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2001