A new Canadian public opinion poll shows massive support for government intervention in polygamous communities.  Eight in ten Canadians want polygamy to remain illegal.

Only one in 10 of those surveyed believes the practice of having multiple marriage partners should be legalized. Another 10 per cent said they didn't know.

The poll also found strong support for governments to intervene more aggressively to protect children in polygamous communities such as Bountiful, B.C.

Eight of 10 surveyed said that governments need to do more or a lot more to ensure the children get a better education, that girls have a choice of whom they marry and that boys are not forced out of the community so that a higher ratio of females to males is maintained.

Conrad Winn, president of COMPAS, the firm that conducted the poll, was surprised to find that 20% either support legalisation of polygamy or had no opinion.

''I think that's extraordinary and may go part way to explain why governments have turned a blind eye to the practice,'' he said.

''I think it points to a certain rootlessness in Western civilization. We have moved rather quickly recently from very firm Christian beliefs to a pluralistic acceptance of almost everything. It seems that we are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with absolutes. It really is moral relativism.''

I don't disagree with Mr Winn about that.  Nevertheless, rarely do policy positions in modern democracies garner 80% support.  Plainly, Canadians want polygamy laws enforced and action taken to protect children of polygamous relationships.

When is BC Attorney-General Wally Oppal going to act on this issue?

h/t: Religion News Blog

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