Mormons = Anyone Aware of This?

by Joe Grundy 15 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Witness My Fury

  Marked thanks
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  Joe Grundy

  It's an interesting use of the English & Welsh criminal court system (can't speak for the Scottish system) which has largely fallen into disuse. An aggrieved party alleging a criminal offence presents his case to a magistrate. The magistrate - in his role as Examining Justice - determines whether there is prima facie evidence of an offence, can issue summonses and directs the investigation (this is the French/Continental model) and can issue arrest warrants.

  Nowadays in E&W the practice is usually different but it harks back to this system - all citizens are granted powers of arrest without warrant but 'constables' have powers of arrest in wider circumstances (basically 'on suspicion').

  This is a District Judge who has issued the summons. DJs are qualified lawyers (most magistrates are lay people) and Westminster MC is not known for allowing frivolous cases.

  The difficulty - as noted above - is following the case through. If the summons is ignored a warrant for arrest will be issued. That brings the extradition issue into play - and the US is notoriously not keen to extradite its citizens. But an EU arrest warrant could be issued which might lead to the 'interesting' situation where the Head Honcho (aka Inspired Chief Prophet or whatever) cannot travel anywhere in the EU for fear of arrest. Will their god protect him, or is this an indication of the Persecution all cults thrive on?

  Whatever, anything that brings ridiculous beliefs and practices to public notice is a Good Thing, IMHO.
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  Band on the Run

  I believe it is insulting British notions of freedom of religion. People higher up will quash it. If they gut one religion, they can gut all. This is not government's business. Will the Archbishop of Canterbury be called to explain Bible stories. The enemy of your enemy is not your friend. The Mormons will be supported by most religions and associations. It is not the role of government to decide the reality of religious stories.

  Americans should know better from elementary school civics. Such actions strengthen the religious groups. I expect people who normallly don't like the Mormons will come out of the woodwork to defend it. I may be one of them.
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  Joe Grundy

  BOTR: This highlights a major difference between the US and the UK. Others will be able to discuss this more 'learnedly' than I can. In the UK much is done by subtle understanding of a thousand (or more) years of history. Overall it seems to work OK. One difference may be that movements such as the Millerites, Mormons, JWs, etc., are seen as 'recent' aberrations (less than 200 years old) whereas most towns/cities/villages have churches at least 800+ years old. This may affect thinking.
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  designs

  I would think citizens in the UK would be more concerned about allowing Sharia Law to take root in communities.
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  Earnest

  There are two identical summonses in the names of Stephen Colin Bloor and Christopher Denis Ralph, both ex-Mormons. The case is very well explained in Mormon Disclosures blog of February 4th.

  Essentially the summons state :

  That between 3rd February 2008 and 31st December 2013 dishonestly and intending thereby to make a gain for [Mormon Prophet and President, Thomas Spencer Monson] or another or a loss or risk of loss to another made or caused to be made representations to Stephen Colin Bloor/Christopher Denis Ralph, which were and which you knew were or might be untrue or misleading and thereby induce the said Stephen Colin Bloor/Christopher Denis Ralph to pay an annual tithe to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, namely that

  i) The Book of Abraham is a literal translation of Egyptian papyri by Joseph Smith.
  ii) The Book of Mormon was translated from ancient gold plates by Joseph 'Smith is the most correct book on earth and is an ancient historical record.
  iii) Native Americans are descended from an Israelite family which left Jerusalem in 600 B.C.
  iv) Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed as martyrs in 1844 because they would not deny their testimony of the Book of Mormon.
  v) The Illinois newspaper called the Nauvoo Expositor had to be destroyed because it printed lies about Joseph Smith.
  vi) There was no death on this planet prior to 6,000 years ago
  vii) All humans alive today are descended from just two people who lived approximately 6,000 years ago
  
  Contrary to section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006

  Two of the sections in the Fraud Act 2006 are quoted in the case: Section 2, “Fraud by false representation” and Section 3, “Fraud by failing to disclose information”.

  Both require dishonest intent, otherwise mens rea (intention) is lacking which is particularly pertinent in a fraud case. I suspect that the learned District Judge Roscoe has made a fool of herself but without knowing what else was said in court to persuade her to issue these summonses we must wait and see.

  The basis of the case against Thomas Monson is that tithing is mandatory and hence he is gaining by fraud. The fact that Jehovah's Witnesses do not practice tithing and there is no mandatory financial obligation means there is even less chance of such a charge succeeding in their case.