Fundamentalist Predators

"Women in polygamous marriages suffer increased psychological, physical and sexual reproductive health harms. They also face material harms including economic and educational deprivation... women in polygamous unions suffer increased family stress, depression, jealousy, low self-esteem, feelings of disempowerment and an increased risk of physical and mental abuse.

"Children of polygamous marriages, meanwhile, "experience lower levels of socio-economic status, reduced academic achievement, and psychological problems... Early marriage and pregnancy have a number of negative, serious, long-term consequences on girls..." Attorney General of Canada

Canada does not have an indigenous culture, nor laws that recognize polygamy as other than an unlawful and societally unacceptable tradition of serial marriages. There are countries in the world that accept polygamy as a man's right to have as many wives as he wishes. And some religions condone, even encourage it, with the proviso that the man have the wherewithal to support many wives and the resulting children.

The country has for far too long turned a blind eye to the situation in British Columbia where in areas like Bountiful, a fundamentalist Mormon community, men take multiple wives. Even the Mormon Church no longer gives its blessing to polygamy. But the federal and provincial governments have maintained an attitude of non-interference. Under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms religious rights are guaranteed.

But is it representative of a religious rite of passage, or is it a relic of a tradition common to tribal patriarchies? It is illegal in Canada to practise female genital mutilation, and it is illegal to force female children into marriage. Both are covertly practised in Canada, along with polygamy. In some cultures and religions like Islam all three are considered normative.

A challenge to Canada's 120-year-old polygamy ban is set to get underway through a hearing officiated by Chief Justice Robert Bauman, with the Attorneys General of Canada and of B.C. presenting for the government and the challengers weighing in by an Amicus Curiae to argue Section 293 is not consistent with Canada's Charter.

A monogamous relationship between a man and a woman through a marriage contract has always represented the norm within Canada and within most Judeo-Christian-heritage democracies. Overturned only when same-sex marriage became lawful.

The social mores of the country are being challenged in support of a harmful practise that benefits men and victimizes women and children.

There are times when the prevailing social culture has the benefit of sound and accepted experience, and the intruding culture presents as a clear disadvantage to society. And the conjunction is where the latter should be stopped in its tracks.