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Father Banned From Sect Among Custody Seekers

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The New York Times

Published: May 21, 2008

SAN ANGELO, Texas - In the weeks since the authorities raided a fundamentalist polygamy group here in West Texas in an investigation of possible child marriages and abuse, the sect's mothers have drawn the most attention.

Starkly visible in their long pastel dresses, they opened up to reporters after their children were taken and have led the fight to have the children returned. Most of the fathers faded into the background or disappeared.

A tall, lean 59-year-old construction worker named Arthur L. Barlow broke that pattern Tuesday.

Barlow, who said he was excommunicated from the group, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, about four years ago and had not seen his five children or their mother since, stepped forward in a court hearing here to take responsibility for his offspring.

He said he would be willing to move to Texas from Utah, where he now lives, if establishing a permanent home in the state would help.

"I will come here and do whatever it takes to have the children in her care or mine," he said, referring to the woman whom court officials said was Barlow's second, or "spiritual" wife, Esther Barlow, who is 35.

The hearings, which began Monday and are expected to last several weeks - five days a week before five judges - are 60-day re-evaluations of the state's plan for the 465 children taken in the raid, who are now in temporary foster care.

Barlow, who said he had 12 children with another woman, said that he had begun helping Esther Barlow establish a home for herself in Abilene, 120 miles from where the sect had its base.

"There's not a better mother," he said from the witness stand in a small courtroom at the Tom Green County Courthouse, where he spoke not only as a witness called by his wife's lawyer, but also representing himself.

If the state does not see fit to return the children to Esther Barlow, Arthur Barlow said, he would take them. "We can pull this together," he added. "It will work."

Arthur Barlow was not asked on the stand why he was ejected from the group. Former members say there are many reasons - some religiously based, others more about politics or personality conflict with the leadership - why it can occur. Esther Barlow's attorney, Tip Hargrove, declined to comment.

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