Utah stirred up by HBO's ‘Big Love’

‘A religious coercion’
Vicky Prunty, director of the anti-polygamy group Tapestry Against Polygamy, said she’s happy the show is addressing the abuse issue, but, based on script she’s read, it doesn’t go far enough.

“The abuse is not in just the isolated areas,” she said. “[Polygamy] deals with power and control. Those individuals feel coerced into it, even if it’s a subtle coercion, a religious coercion.”

Prunty said even though the church tries to separate itself from the polygamy issue, the majority of practicing polygamists, including her ex-husband with whom she was in a multiple marriage, trace their beliefs to Mormon doctrine. Prunty’s group has asked the Mormon church to get more involved in the issue.

Otterson said the role of the church is not to involve itself in allegations of criminal behavior.

“All we can do is raise our moral voice,” he said. “The church will always be reluctant to step into an area that is the preserve of government.”

Anne Wilde, the community relations director for the pro-polygamy group Principal Voices, said she’s worried too.

“I don’t want it to represent our culture in a bad way,” she said.

Wilde was in a plural marriage for more than 33 years, until her husband died about three years ago. She doubts the realities of most modern-day polygamists would interest TV viewers.

“I would like people to realize it’s very similar to a monogamous family,” Wilde said.

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