Praise God! The national news special report has just announced that Elizabeth Smart, abducted from her bedroom last year, has been found alive in a car belonging to a drifter who had done work in her parents' home. This little girl will be going home to her family! Praise you, Jesus! Thanks be to the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

-- Anna <>< (flower@youknow.com), March 12, 2003

Answers

Anna, I alkways believed Mr. Ricci was telling the truth when he said he didn't kidnap Elizabeth. The man died in prison. He paid for something he didn't do.

This girl was 14. She should have tried to escape if she was actually kidnapped. There is something missing in the story. I am glad she was found. There will be time to deprogram her brain from what she went through.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), March 12, 2003.

Anna - my intention is not to offend you or others regarding the " miracle " of this girl returning home as stated by the Mormon father. Please rember she was brought up in the household of a cult follower.Imagine the pain and desparation this girl felt.

Now to the other side of the coin - was this the act of a girl like so many who rebel against their parents regardless of religious upbringing.

The Patty Heart/Stockholm Syndrome does not cut ice with me a bit. This girl perhaps was what is termed " an eight mile Mormon " which is an unwritten rule being should you misbehave do it 8 miles or further from you temple.

She was found after galivanting from State to State residing in her home town of Salt Lake City. Said to be in very good health and not traumatised. Makes me wonder here who is the true victom if there was one at all.

The father gushing on air made me laugh. She played and will not pay in the world of cults. Or perhaps in ways we cannot think of as Christians.

-- jean bouchard (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), March 13, 2003.

jean,

Although not Catholic, I am certain that the 9-month long ordeal of their missing daughter was a horrific experience, for the parents and the siblings, as well as the extended family. Their religious beliefs aside, being abducted from one's bedroom at gunpoint (even if, as you posit, she may have been in on it) would certainly have been traumatic for her little sister.

My 18 year old son's best friend (in Catholic high school) is Mormon, and the family is very loving. You are quite correct. Mormonism is a cult. I cannot argue that with you! But I am happy that a missing child has been returned to her parents and siblings, alive, and apparently unharmed. I am sure that God, in His infinite mercy, heard their prayers.

-- Anna <>< (flower@youknow.com), March 13, 2003.

Anna, if we all took it to the end, would that help them or you? In my humble opinion on the road was the life she knew was wrong and in her house was the father she maybe loved or not. The important thing is to let them see it without the press and then decide where to go from now on. Now, you think it's not correct?

-- Elisabeth (Elisabeth Weeny17@aol.com), March 13, 2003.

Sorry Elisabeth,

I don't follow :(

"The important thing is to let them see it without the press and then decide where to go from now on. Now, you think it's not correct?"

By "them," are you referring to the girls' parents?

Whatever.

I'm just saying, thank goodness the girl is alive and well. That is all.

God Bless!

-- Anna <>< (flower@youknow.com), March 13, 2003.

Anna, your initial reaction and subsequent replies to people are admirable and valid.

Elpidio, Mr. Ricci was not in prison because of the Smart affair. He was guilty of other crimes.

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), March 14, 2003.

Thank you, John. God Bless.

-- Anna <>< (flower@youknow.com), March 15, 2003.

That poor child went through so much, and to even suggest that she was in on it is rash judgement. It might be that her family, or sister were threatened and many other things, give the kid the benefit of the doubt.

-- Ed Richards (loztra@yahoo.com), March 15, 2003.

bump

-- Anna <>< (flower@youknow.com), March 16, 2003.

I cannot believe some of these posts. This poor girl was raped. What does that have to do with rebelling teenagers? Get real.

-- Sam (anon@anon.com), April 03, 2003.

I think, Sam, at the time of their posts, some posters thought otherwise. Since that time, perhaps they've seen enough information to convince them otherwise.

Child abduction is a nightmare. I really think laws should be much more strict and penalties much more severe for individuals who abduct children.

Pax Christi.

-- Anna <>< (flower@youknow.com), April 03, 2003.