Jesus Christ

Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs was hospitalized in fair condition under tight security in Las Vegas, a day after he was found "convulsive," weak and feverish in a Kingman, Ariz., jail cell, a sheriff's spokeswoman said. Jeffs, 52, of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was convicted by a Utah jury last year of first-degree felony rape as an accomplice.

An arrest warrant has been dropped for a man whose purported 16-year-old wife triggered a raid on a polygamist sect's Eldorado compound, authorities said. A Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman would not say why the warrant was dropped for Dale E. Barlow, 50, of Colorado City, Ariz., who has denied knowing her. The crisis-center caller reported that she was a 16-year-old member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who had been beaten and raped.

Texas child welfare authorities say they are investigating whether young boys were sexually abused at a polygamist sect's ranch. The move is part of a massive investigation triggered by allegations that girls were forced into underage marriages and sex. Carey Cockerell, the head of the state's Department of Family and Protective Services, told state lawmakers the investigation was based on "discussions with the boys." Members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints responded sharply, saying state authorities were misleading the public to cover up their errors in the case.

More than half the teenage girls taken from a polygamist compound in western Texas have children or are pregnant, state officials said in San Antonio. A total of 53 girls between the ages of 14 and 17 are in state custody after a recent raid at the Yearning for Zion Ranch in Eldorado. Of those, 31 have children or are pregnant, said Child Protective Services spokesman Darrell Azar. State officials took custody of all 463 children at the ranch controlled by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, alleging an unsafe environment in which teen girls were forced into underage "spiritual" marriages and sex with older men.

A man wrapped in a shawl stood at the door. "This is Jesus," said another man. Jesus sat and peeled an orange as his companion, Nader Talebzadeh, began to speak, precisely, so as not to be misunderstood on a matter so sensitive. The Iranian director's new film is based on the Islamic version of the life of Jesus, depicting the man Christians believe to be the messiah and son of God as a tormented Judean prophet foretelling the coming of Muhammad, the founder of the Muslim faith.

A court has rejected an effort by the mothers of a polygamist sect in western Texas to keep their children with them. The state 3rd Court of Appeals denied the request by dozens of mothers with the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They wanted to stop an order allowing the children to be sent to foster facilities.

Officials who took 416 children from a polygamist retreat into state custody sent many of their mothers away from the children's temporary residence as a judge and lawyers struggled with one of the biggest child-custody cases in U.S. history. Of the 139 women who voluntarily left the compound with their children, only those with children 4 or younger were allowed to continue staying with them, said Marissa Gonzales, a spokeswoman for the state Children's Protective Services. The state accuses members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints of physically and sexually abusing the youngsters.

Mohave County Atty. Matt Smith filed a motion to dismiss two of 10 sexual assault charges against polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs because an alleged victim refuses to testify. Smith said that he received a letter from the woman's attorney explaining that she doesn't want to take the stand against Jeffs, the president, or prophet, of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. "She does not want to have to deal with all the family and community pressures to be involved in this case," Smith said.

Re "Faith in government," editorial, Dec. 29 As a Catholic, I object to those who conflate "pro-abortion" and "pro-choice." The Constitution as defined by the Supreme Court is the law of the land, while citizens are free to practice religion according to their beliefs. The only way a Catholic politician can be faithful to church and country is to be "pro-choice," as long as the Supreme Court upholds that position. Those who are "pro-abortion" are not acting Catholic because they affirm a procedure that takes a life.

Most religions worldwide hold that God interacts with humans on Earth. But in the Christmas story, something quite different happens. In Christian teaching, God doesn't just visit Earth, but becomes human. Understanding that difference, say clergy and scholars, is key to grasping the theological underpinnings of Christmas. Even Christians brought up in the belief that Jesus Christ is God's son may not be aware that this teaching, compared with other faiths, is unique. The Rev.