tax in france case lost (page 2)

TheOldHippie

It will be appealed, to the European Human Right's Court, as were the cases involving Greece and Austria, where the organization won.
I do not understand the "celebration", though, as this has bearing on countless other groups as well, and tells us that the French government has taken it upon itself to be the sole judge as to what religious opinions can be "acceptable" or not, and that they have found only the Catholic and the Lutheran churches to be legitimate churches. A mighty strange government, if you ask me.

fodeja

as were the cases involving Greece and Austria, where the organization won.

Wrong, and a typical JW "urban legend" (or more appropriately: lie). The WTS did NOT win any case in the European Court of Human Rights regarding their legal status in Austria. Feel free to search the Judgments and Decisions database on http://www.echr.coe.int/Eng/Judgments.htm

If you're referring to the Hofmann case judgement of 1993: it's quite unrelated to this subject matter and precedes the currently relevant 1998 law on religions.

f.

TheOldHippie

Not an urban legend, as I was referring to the Hoffman case. I know it is unrelated to this case, but I mentioned it to give an example that cases are appealed further on from the single countriy's High Court, which is the European Human Right's Court in instances like this. And in SUCH an environment, the Hoffmann case is related, although as a CASE of course it was unrelated.

Will Power

"It will be appealed, to the European Human Right's Court, as were the cases involving Greece and Austria, where the organization won."

Was this at a time that they enjoyed their seat on the back of the UN as an NGO for the DPI?

Do you think it might do the world good if the French courts knew of the little pickle the WT has found itself in? Slandering the UN for decades would also, by the very nature of the UN org., be slandering all the member countries that support it's goals - human rights, etc.

Vive la france!

LB

Still 39 million dollars is a drop in the bucket for the WTBTS. Sort of like me getting a parking ticket. Life goes on.

Never Squat With Yer Spurs On

proplog2

Simon:

You ought to rethink your position. You obviously have contempt for civil society.

Satanus

O'hippie

What seems to be the problem w the wt rendering ceasar's things to ceasar, even though the other churches don't? Jehovah who owns the hills and mountains should have an org that would be spotless in carrying out its civic duties. Does $39 million upset jehovah?

On the other hand, isn't it strange that the wt prophecied taxation would be one of the means that the govts would use to dry up babylons (primarily the catholic church) waters? Here it is being used by france, not against the rc, but against the org that predicted it to be used against the rc's?? I wonder who babylon really is.

SS

Will Power

Good point SS
do you know where this can be found?

garybuss

TheOldHippie wrote:

<the French government has taken it upon itself to be the sole judge as to what religious opinions can be "acceptable" or not>

I have read the French Government report on sects. Religious opinion is not an issue nor a concern. The issue causing the concern are the behaviors.

This as from a report about the report:

The Government's response to some minority groups that it views as "sects" has been to encourage public caution. In 1995 the National Assembly formed a parliamentary commission, known as the Gest or the Guyard Commission (after the names of its chairman and rapporteur respectively), to study so-called "sects." In 1996 the Commission issued a report that defined sects as groups that place inordinate importance on finances; cause a rupture between adherents and their families; are responsible for physical as well as psychological attacks on members; recruit children; profess "anti-social" ideas; disturb public order; have "judiciary problems;" and/or attempt to infiltrate organs of the State. Government officials have stated that "sects" are "associations whose structure is ideological and totalitarian and whose behavior seriously oppresses fundamental liberties as well as social equilibrium." (These attributes are in addition to specific criminal behavior prohibited by law.)

The Commission's report identified 173 groups as sects, including Jehovah's Witnesses and the Church of Scientology.

End of quote.

More than a few people feel it is fair that these groups be accorded the same treatment as they accord their own people, including dissenters among them.

gb

Will Power

Well there shouldn't be any complaining there, it describes them to a T!

If the shoe fits pay up & shut up

tax in france case lost

Share this