Law and religion

Faith in courts

As the season of goodwill fades, an old problem returns: religious disputes that draw in secular courts

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Readers' comments


fly on the wall

Traditional christianity must be traced to belief in the Bible, mustn't it? It's pretty clear that the Bible says homosexuality is wrong... Why would people who agree with homosexuality be classified as traditional christians if the Bible is such a fixture and yet so clearly condemns it?


Indeed, a very sad subject. But, almost always actions have consequences (direct or indirect) and, when these results deal with the realms of material interests and beliefs/principles of faith/religious traditions ... one tends to experience the clashes between the mundane and the divine, the real world and the unreal, victory and defeat. In other words, the ying-yang of what is and what it is not.


Seems strange to me. Who is the registered owner of the property? In Southern Africa it would be (in 90% of the time) the Province through the Diocesan Trustees. In the remaining 10% it could well be the local congregation or some other person or body. Here, if it is the Province or the Diocese, the congregation could whistle all they like but can have no right to appropriate the property for themselves. If, on the other hand, the property belongs to the congregation, it would be their decision whether they could take it with them. (if it belongs to the local University, it would be their decision). So why have a court case?


Couldn't this problem solved by registering a church as a company and resolve the issue like any other share holder dispute?


God sent his only beloved son to save sinners, we are told. Shaw I understand , says that sin is stupidity. If the sinners continue to break up the body of the church through their stupdity, then, even the almighty may not be able to resolve their problems.
Both parties, it down and remove the moat from their ownn eyes, before looking for the splinter in the neighbours.


I agree this is a very interesting topic - considering how material assets can be the focus of a religious issue. The RC Church faces a similar problem in the sex-abuse scandal as victims claim the Vatican should be financially accountable and not just the dioceses.

Curate's Egg

Fascinating issue. I hope a solution agreeable to the Anglican Church can be worked out; God knows the Anglican Church of Canada is too fragile to handle even innocent issues like this.


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