Why is it that whenever a Mormon does something, the media makes sure everyone knows they are a Mormon? Is it worse when one does something bad? What about when a Catholic or a Baptist does it? Or a Jew? Muslim? I find it odd...
All of that aside, I find this sort of junk utterly appalling. How horrible is it that someone would think that this an OK thing to do.

Matthew S., Decatur, Texas

The reason the press is reporting that these women are members of the mormon church is to compare and contrast their actions with their purported beliefs. No-one has the right to abuse anyone, but when you live your life claiming to be a christian, it appears even worse. Being found to be in the wrong, as measured by someone else's standards is on thing, but being found wrong by your own standards is about as bad as it gets.

I have absolutely no religious faith, whatsoever. I have my suspicions about all organised religions, insofar as double standards being present, but you can't tar everyone with the same brush. That said, where were the ministers? Did no-one realise how strangely these children will have been acting in comparison to those that live happy and healthy lives? Did no-one care?

It is one thing to be involved in the life of a church, but a church should stand by it's own standards and take a more active role in the lives and welfare of it's followers.

Andy, Durham, England

I'm sickened to say the least,
no child in the world deserves the punishment those two women felt fit to hand out,

Ann, sittingbourne , Kent

I am utterly disgusted that we have such a ridiculously unfair law system, one that can jail a person for such a short term who repeatedly flauts the law , even ending up risking or even taking anothers life,& then others who have never offended, steal a bottle of milk off a door step because they have no money, getting six months!!!.
In this particular case, two women however severely disturbed a female they may be; getting JUST 19 months for TEN years of abuse! that without a doubt WILL haunt the victims for the rest of their lives, are blatantly getting a way with it., There is no doubt that to get away with it, for the length of time they have doneI Just proves it was nothing other than calculated & long term abuse.
For pities sake, when will this country genuinely hold true to a law, that defends & provides basic justice for the VICTIMS. I too believe 'Innocent til Proved guilty, but we have gone far too far over basic human right , especially the perpetrators!!!!!!!

Fi, Hove,

"but whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better a millstone were hanged about his neck ,and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea"
"woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come ; but woe to that man by whom the offence come"
mathew 18 verses 6-7
these two verses sum it up
but the damage those woman have caused to these children,i hope the children recover
i know that there is a God ,and that not only have these two woman got to face up to the human laws, but one day they will stand before God, what will they say then ??
worse still, will these children ever believe in God and or the church , i know that some people come into the church and go inactive like Daron Gardner,who hasmade a fair choice and decided for himselve, about the church, but these children have not had a fair choice,I hope one day they will recover from the torture inflicted and live healthy,be loved by God, with the right chioces

philip pearce, torquay, devon uk

This abuse is in no way connected to any teachings from the church. These women did this appauling thing in private at home without the knowledge of others.
I feel so sorry for these children and am glad they have now been moved to safety. Crimes against children are particularly horrific to hear about & more should be discussed about making the world safer for them than who does or doesn't believe in God.
Unfortunately these women would have done the same thing with or without religion. Their behaviour is disgraceful.

Sam, London,

there are abusers everywhere in every religion. The fact that these women are mormon and that they abuse children are not interrelated.

I know one of them and she has always creeped me out a bit.

layla, london, uk

As an ex-mormon, I have my issues with the church, every account of abuse in the church that I am aware of (child/spouse), has ended with the abuser being reported to the police and punished by the church. I wouldn't be surprised if there are some people in the church that have made mistakes and hidden such things, but the church certainly doesn't promote that idea.

I am a former missionary and active mormon, and while I don't believe in the church anymore at all, to imply that there are a lot of deep and dark things going on is really ridiculous. The church isn't led by God anymore than any other religion (protestants/baptists etc), but it isn't anything dark/evil.

I am happy I left the church because I have found greater happiness outside religion, but nothing in mormonism promotes abuse to anyone, and to say otherwise is dishonest. If their are members found to abuse, they are told to report and punished within the church as well.

If guilty, I hope they are punish thoroughly

Daron Gardner, New Haven, USA/CT

I am deeply troubled by many of the comments about this story reflecting the mormon church. If these women are in deed active members of the church, I'm sure they will face another dicipline hearing within the church it'self. There are good and bad people in all walks of life, and it is unfortunate that the majority are tarnished by the minority who don't live up to the standards that are taught and encouraged.

jan, leeds, uk

I'm very pleased this story has come out. The Mormons trade on being the 'only true church'. These women might not have been sentenced yet, but you have to ask yourself what else is going on within the walls of the 'only true church'. If the Mormons were as clean cut as they portray themselves to be, and so family friendly rather than feeling the need to defend their faith, they would look to flush out those who abuse the power and trust 'invested' in them. There are deeper darker things going on, but truth always has a way of coming out. And this is coming from one who knows: a very disillusioned Mormon.

Mary, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

I think it is perfectly valid for the press to report that these sick individuals are Mormons. Members of that organisation aren't normally shy about publicising their activities (as those of us who have had Mormons repeatedly knocking on our doors can testify) and 'outing' these two as mormons helps non-believers understand the degree of gullibility, brainwashing and intellectual paucity involved.

Jack, Edinburgh, Scotland

About this item on the Mormon story about the two women who are in the process of being tried for cruelty. Going through life, I have become very suspicious of the media and its motives with many topics, and at first glance I wondered why you started with them being Mormon; and to what end? I am not a Mormon. I was brought up Church of England, but I’m not really a church follower. I hold my own beliefs: honesty and truth being just two. The media and the press tend to glorify many things for their own ends, but having said that if it wasn’t for you and the media, I have to admit that atrocities such as this one would not be brought into the open. As a friend once said to me “good can be found out of bad”. So even if they are proved innocent there are many like them that are not, who otherwise get hidden under the carpet by the so called hierarchy that seems to rule us, with the ignorance is bliss attitude, And these include such as are in governments too of all persuasions and church.

Colin Baker, Aldershot, United Kingdom.

These 2 women certainly are not a reflection on the Mormon Church and I am sure all Mormons are disgusted by their actions. I am concerned by the xenophobic reaction when a criminal is described by their religion be it muslim, mormon or catholic. What damn difference does it make what their religion is!

roger kingston, york, UK

Is it your policy to state the religious ties of all accused child abusers? If these women were Catholic, would you have referred to them as "two Catholic women"? If these women were Protestant, would you have referred to them as "two Protestant women"? I believe the crimes, if true, are repulsive no matter what their religious beliefs.

L. Shafer, St. Louis, Mo/USA

This is not the first case like this I have heard of involving Mormons.

Martin, Shropshire,

I agree that this particular case does not appear to be caused by the religious affiliation of the accused women.

Yet there is a systematic problem with child abuse by religious leaders and instructors in the Mormonism. The Mormon Alliance has documented some of the most shocking cases on its website. I recommend that interested readers study the facts for themselves.

I am distraught by the fact that the LDS Church would excommunicate the mothers of abused children for speaking out. Unfortunately, it is pretty common that ardent Mormon believers blame the victims for bringing child abuse cases to the attention of the authorities and the public.

We cannot afford to take solace in the fact that those two women appear to be random dingbats. There are institutional and cultural issues regarding child abuse in Mormonism, which is true of many communities. However, we cannot tolerate it that our leaders punish child protection activists with excommunication and other sanctions.

Hellmut, College Park, USA

Yet again another crime committed under the guise of religion.

I expect the Mormon church will use it's power to push it under the carpet and then deny it ever happened.

Another miracle I expect.

Stuart L, Coventry, UK

Whose children are they? The article does not indicate why the children were living in that situation? Is one or both of the women the mother of some or all of the children?

Charles, Charlottesville,

I know both women and the children personally from church, but I had no idea. The children are lovely, and I never had a problem with either woman. I no longer attend church for other reasons, but I must say I've always wondered what goes on behind closed, based on how miserable some of the church members seemed on the outside, despite their better attempts to act happy. Mormonism really isn't what it seems on the surface, and the cracks are beginning to show. Is it any wonder there is a anti-depressant culture developing among Mormons? It's good that this story has been made public. Maybe the brainwashed masses might start to see that all is not well in Mormon land. Even so, it is very shocking when you know those involved on a personal level.

margaret, london, United Kingdom.

These women were probably not influenced by their belief in Mormonism, indeed it seems incidental to the case.

However the previous comments are somewhat disingenuous, although the Mormon church may condemn abuse it is currently under investigation in Scotland because of alleged contraventions of the Child Protection Act.

So the LDS (Mormon) church like so many other faith based institutions hardly has a record to be proud of where child protection is concerned.

Joe, Glasgow,

No man to blame for "battered wife syndrome"? They may actucally get some prison time for their abuse.

Parson Jim, San Diego, CA, USA

As a Mormon myself, I am deeply troubled by this incident. I am a life-time Mormon (35) and have never heard anything taught that would even remotely support this kind of behavior.

Hopefully the damage this has caused the children is not great.

John, Denver,

No child deserves to be treated like that, regardless of what they've done or what religious denomination they are of. I have little experience of the Mormon church, but by the comments left by other users I am of the impression that these women were merely using their religion to justify their actions. I'm glad I haven't been treated like these poor children were during what of my childhood I've experienced so far, and feel very sorry for any child who does.

Amy, London, UK

If found guilty, we should bring back the birch for such horrendous individuals.
Then perhaps the ducking stool!
James M
London

James M, London, UK

Horrible... the mormon church does NOT teach this kind of behavior. In fact, they strongly condemn any physical or emotional abuse to anyone. These women should be punished for harming these poor children. The church does encourage hard work and discipline but the way these women did it to these children is dispicable.

Mark, Salt Lake City, Utah

We all wholeheartedly agree with you, Jacob! These women were clearly deranged. Obviously, they were mothers who did not love their children, and this happens to people no matter what religion they are.
And knowing many wonderful Mormons myself, they are, above all I have ever met, the most loving parents and have the best children.

Kenna, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

My view is that there should be no public discussion of this case, such as inviting us to have our say, until after the Court Case. The concept of Sub Judice is still very important and we should respect it. These defendents have the right not to be the subject of news paper speculation and speculation in a public forum, other than legitimate reporting of the case, until such time as the case has finished and they are either innocent or guilty.

Mark, Cardiff,

Just for the record, if these women are indeed guilty of the crimes they've been charged with, they acted in ways that are completely incompatible with the teachings of the Mormon Church. The Mormon Church routinely condemns abuse in all of its forms.

Jacob, La Jolla, USA/CA