Just curious as to when you find time to find and read these ponderous articles you post here. --- it only took about 3 minutes to find that info. Using search engines is common core knowledge these days.
as you know ... the purpose of presenting that info was to counter Travis's islamophobic posted article about sharia law. anti-muslim immigration sentiments in America are similar to anti-hispanic, jewish, and irish views in US history. whether you view it as a national or religious problem, it's going to continue for the rest of our lifetimes. [image: Image result for no jews or dogs] [image: Image result for no jews or dogs] On Sunday, September 4, 2016 at 10:54:00 AM UTC-5, gtheist957 wrote: > > I own a business. Just curious as to when you find time to find and read > these ponderous articles you post here. > > On Sep 4, 2016 10:49 AM, "plainolamerican" <[email protected] > <javascript:>> wrote: > > yes ... I work every day. > I'm an IT and digital content developer, musician and artist. > Do you have a job? > > On Sunday, September 4, 2016 at 10:30:24 AM UTC-5, gtheist957 wrote: > > Plain ole do you have job ? > > On Sep 4, 2016 10:25 AM, "plainolamerican" <[email protected]> wrote: > > The civilization jihadists pushed for their own sub-legal system in Texas > --- > Across the United States, religious courts operate on a routine, everyday > basis. The Roman Catholic Church alone has nearly 200 diocesan tribunals > that handle a variety of cases, including an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 > marriage annulments each year.1 > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#_ftn1> > > In addition, many Orthodox Jews use rabbinical courts to obtain religious > divorces, resolve business conflicts and settle other disputes with fellow > Jews. Similarly, many Muslims appeal to Islamic clerics to resolve marital > disputes and other disagreements with fellow Muslims. > > For the most part, religious courts and tribunals operate without much > public notice or controversy. Occasionally, however, issues involving > religious law or religious courts garner media attention. The handling of > clergy sexual abuse cases under Catholic canon law, for example, has come > under scrutiny.2 > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#_ftn2> > > Internal church proceedings aimed at disciplining Protestant clergy have > generated news coverage because they have highlighted debates over same-sex > marriage and openly gay ministers.3 > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#_ftn3> > > There also have been public protests against Orthodox Jewish men who > refused to grant their wives a religious divorce.4 > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#_ftn4> > > Meanwhile, bills aimed at banning the use of Islamic (sharia) law – or at > restricting the application of religious or foreign law in general – have > been introduced in more than 30 state legislatures. (For more details on > those legislative initiatives, see the map graphic “State Legislation > Restricting Use of Foreign or Religious Law > <http://features.pewforum.org/sharia-law-map/>.”) > > Disputes over the laws of various religious traditions have occasionally > made their way into U.S. civil courts, but the Supreme Court consistently > has ruled that judges and other government officials may not interpret > religious doctrine or rule on theological matters.5 > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#_ftn5> > > In such cases, civil courts must either defer to the decisions of religious > bodies or adjudicate religious disputes based on neutral principles in > secular law. For example, in recent years the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia > has battled in state court with several congregations over control of > buildings, property and funds after the congregations voted to join more > theologically conservative branches of the worldwide Anglican Communion. So > far, the cases have been decided in favor of the diocese using contract and > real estate law rather than church law.6 > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#_ftn6> > > *Role of Mediation in Religious Legal Disputes* > > Grievances within a faith tradition often are settled amicably or > adjudicated by the religious community itself without involvement from > religious or secular courts. Indeed, many religious groups encourage > members who are accused of (non-criminal) moral wrongdoing or who are > involved in a financial dispute with another member of the religious group > to engage in mediation in an effort to come to a voluntary agreement. In > many cases, more formal tribunals and the like are employed only after such > efforts at mediation fail. > > For many Christians, mediation is more than just a cost-efficient way to > resolve disputes. Some cite biblical passages, such as St. Paul’s First > Letter to the Corinthians, which urge believers to bring their grievances > to fellow believers rather than to outside authorities. In addition, some > Christians believe that mediation helps to promote reconciliation and > forgiveness for everyone involved. “God has called us to something that’s > more glorifying than proving what’s right or even just,” according to > Annette Friesen, who works as a conciliation and training consultant at > Peacemaker Ministries’ Institute for Christian Conciliation in Billings, > Mont. > > Mediation also has a place in other faith traditions. For instance, a > saying (or hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad speaks of the risks judges take > when they make wrong or unjust decisions.7 > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#_ftn7> > > As a result, mediation is often viewed as a better course of action than > settling the dispute in court, according to Imam Moujahed Bakhach, who > directs the Mediation Institute of North Texas in Fort Worth.8 > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#_ftn8> > > “Many Muslims like mediation for resolving problems because it allows them > to work things out without necessarily disclosing private matters in a > public place,” Bakhach says. > > Jews – particularly the Orthodox, who often view Jewish law (halakhah) as > governing nearly every aspect of daily life – also frequently turn to > religious mediators to resolve disputes with fellow Jews. “Mediation is > strongly favored in Jewish law, and rabbinic literature contains high > praise for parties who are able to settle their disputes rather than engage > in litigation,” according to Rabbi Shlomo Weissmann, director of Beth Din > of America, a rabbinical court in New York City. “While there is no > specific process for mediation that all or most rabbis follow, rabbis > encourage settlement and will attempt to mediate disputes whenever that is > possible.” > > When mediation is not possible, either because the parties are unable to > come to a settlement or because the case involves accusations of a > particularly serious nature, churches and other religious groups may turn > to religious courts or tribunals. > > *View a specific religious affiliation:* > African Methodist Episcopal Church > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#african> > Assemblies > of God > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#assemblies> > > Buddhism > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#Buddhism> > Catholic > Church > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#catholic> > > Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#church> > Episcopal > Church of the United States > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#episcopal> > > Evangelical Lutheran Church in America > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#evangelical> > > Hinduism > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#hinduism> > > Islam > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#islam> > > Judaism > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#judaism> > > Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#lutheran> > Presbyterian > Church, U.S.A. > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#presbyterian> > > Southern Baptist Convention > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#southern> > Unitarian > Universalist Association > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#unitarian> > > United Methodist Church > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#united> > > > *About This Report* > > This report by the Pew Research Center focuses on religious courts and > mediation, examining how some of the country’s major Christian > denominations and other religious groups – 15 groups in total – routinely > decide internal matters and apply their religious laws. > > Some of the legal codes – Islamic sharia and Jewish halakhah, for example > – are quite comprehensive, covering many aspects of individual, family and > community life, from marriage and divorce to death and inheritance. Other > religious legal traditions, including those of many Protestant > denominations, focus largely on internal church governance, including the > expulsion of members and disciplining of wayward clergy. > > Each entry includes links to official documents and other resources to > help readers who want to delve more deeply into a particular religious > group’s laws or judicial system. > ------------------------------ > African Methodist Episcopal Church > > The African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), one of the nation’s largest > African-American churches, has a hierarchical structure with a number of > layers. Near the bottom of this hierarchy is the Quarterly Conference, a > local administrative body within each AME congregation that meets four > times a year and is made up of local church leaders. Quarterly Conferences, > in turn, are part of larger regional groupings that meet once a year, > called Annual Conferences. Ordained and lay delegates elected by the Annual > Conferences convene every four years in what is called the General > Conference. > > *Disciplining Church Members* > > The church’s ecclesiastical law is outlined in its Book of Discipline. Lay > members may be subject to discipline if they disrupt their congregation or > behave in ways that, in the words of the church’s chief executive and > general superintendent, Bishop Clement Fugh, “exclude them from the grace > and glory” of the church. This can include being rowdy during services, > being drunk in public or refusing to submit to the authority of church > leadership. > > Allegations of such misconduct go to a group of the local congregation’s > leaders – known as the Board of Stewards – which investigates and issues an > opinion on the credibility of the charges, says Fugh. The board then > presents its findings to a committee it has appointed to hear the case. > During the hearing, the accused may speak and call witnesses on his or her > behalf. The committee then votes on whether to affirm the decision of the > Board of Stewards. Possible punishments include suspending membership or > barring the offender from holding leadership positions in the church. > > Those who believe they have been unfairly disciplined may appeal to their > congregation’s Quarterly Conference during its next meeting. The appeal is > heard by the members of the conference – a presiding elder as well as a > group of leaders from the congregation. The conference’s decision is final, > Fugh says. > > *Disciplining Religious Leaders* > > Disciplining clergy is a more complicated process, in part because the AME > Church handles sexual misconduct and other kinds of misconduct differently, > Fugh explains. > > *Sexual Misconduct* > > Any sexual misconduct involving a minor is immediately turned over to > civil authorities for investigation. When charges of other kinds of sexual > impropriety arise – for example, when a minister is alleged to have had an > extramarital affair with an adult congregant – the Board of Stewards of the > minister’s congregation reports the charge to the presiding elder of that > congregation. The presiding elder then refers the allegation to the > Judicial Committee of the Annual Conference to which the church belongs, > which then investigates the matter. > > If the Judiciary Committee finds the charge is credible, it convenes a > Trial Committee –comprised of 12 elders from the Annual Conference – and > holds a formal trial. During the trial, the Judiciary Committee provides > the evidence against the accused and may call witnesses. The accused may be > represented by a secular lawyer, church elder or other counselor and may > also call witnesses. Members of the Trial Committee act as judges and rule > on the charge. A person can challenge the ruling of a Trial Committee by > appealing to the Judicial Council, a body of nine ministers and laypersons > elected by the General Conference as the highest judicial body in the > church. The Judicial Council reviews the trial and issues a ruling, which > is final. > > *Other Misconduct* > > According to Fugh, when an ordained minister is charged with committing a > non-sexual offense, a church panel called the Ministerial Efficiency > Committee handles the complaint. Offenses that might come before this group > include unethical behavior, such as theft, as well as preaching ideas that > are inconsistent with AME doctrine, such as proclaiming that homosexuality > is not a sin. The Ministerial Efficiency Committee hears evidence in the > case and makes a report to the Annual Conference to which the church > belongs. The report includes the committee’s opinion on the guilt or > innocence of the accused and, if appropriate, a recommended punishment, > such as a formal reprimand or suspension. At the Annual Conference’s next > meeting, it reviews the report and votes on the charge. Its decision is > final. > > Fugh notes, however, that the AME Church rarely employs this complex > judicial system. Though there are more than 4,000 AME congregations in the > United States, he says, “very few” cases arise each year against either > laypersons or ministers. > > *For More Information* > > The Doctrines and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church > <http://docsouth.unc.edu/church/ame/menu.html> > > Governing Structure of the African Methodist Episcopal Church > <http://www.ame-church.com/about-us/structure.php> > ------------------------------ > Assemblies of God > > The Assemblies of God, the largest Pentecostal denomination in the U.S., > according to Pew Research’s 2007 U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, is a > fellowship of churches that gives its roughly 12,500 congregations > substantial autonomy.9 > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#_ftn9> > > At the same time, it has a two-tiered hierarchy – consisting of 64 regional > District Councils and a national General Council – which exercises limited > authority over congregations and credentials their ministers. Under this > governance structure, local congregations control many areas of church > life, including disciplining lay members for misconduct. But regional and > national church authorities play an important role in settling some > disputes, notably those involving clergy. > > *Disciplining Clergy* > > The church’s bylaws list 14 offenses that can bring about the dismissal of > a minister, including sexual immorality, incompetence, financial > impropriety, and being contentious and uncooperative toward district > leadership. “The ones that get invoked most often involve sexual > misconduct, misusing money and having a contentious spirit,” according to > James Bradford, general secretary of the church. “We usually dismiss fewer > than 125 pastors each year, out of a total of over 35,000 credentialed > ministers,” he adds. > > When an Assemblies of God minister is accused of wrongdoing, the complaint > is taken up by the superintendent of the district where the pastor’s church > is located. If, after an investigation, the superintendent finds the > charges to be credible, he calls the minister before the district’s > governing board. Here, the minister has a formal opportunity to hear the > evidence against him and to respond. If the board determines that the > charges are true, it can either suspend the minister (often with the hope > of rehabilitating him) or dismiss him. The severity of the disciplinary > action usually depends on the offense and the willingness of the minister > to repent. “Our first instinct is always rehabilitation and restoration,” > according to Duane Durst, superintendent for the New York District. > However, Durst says, there are some offenses that lead to automatic > dismissal. “Child abuse and molestation, using child pornography, > homosexual conduct: these are absolute knockouts,” he says. > > If the district board finds the pastor culpable and the pastor continues > to maintain his innocence, he can appeal to the national church’s General > Council and its 20-member Credentials Committee. The committee can either > affirm the district’s decision or, if it determines that the case was not > handled properly, return it to the district for reconsideration. The > committee does not have the authority to overturn the district’s decision, > however. If the district’s decision is affirmed, the accused pastor can > appeal one more time – to the General Presbytery, the national church’s > 300-member policymaking body. However, the General Presbytery will consider > an appeal only if there is new exculpatory evidence. Otherwise, the > decision is affirmed and no further appeals are allowed. > > *Conflicts Between Pastors and Congregations* > > Church officials also play a role in mediating conflicts between pastors > and their congregations. These conflicts are “usually about control – who’s > in charge and how are they in charge,” according to Durst, who has mediated > these types of disputes as a district superintendent. > > If the pastor, the church’s board of elders or 30 percent of the > congregation’s members request it, the district superintendent will > intervene to try to resolve a dispute. Usually, the superintendent appeals > to each side to understand the other. For example, if a congregation brings > a complaint about the way a new pastor is allocating church resources, the > superintendent will attempt to mediate the dispute and find a solution that > both sides can live with. “We remind the congregation that they chose this > pastor and that they need to understand that there are significant > differences between him and his predecessor,” Durst says. “And we tell the > pastor that he needs to earn [the congregation’s] trust before he can make > big changes.” This strategy works “about half the time,” Durst says, > adding, “Often how we handle the problem is much more important than the > problem itself.” > > *For More Information* > > Assemblies of God Constitution and Bylaws > <http://agchurches.org/Sitefiles/Default/RSS/AG.org%20TOP/GCM%2008%202011%20-%20Constitution%20and%20Bylaws%20with%20Minutes%20-%20Index%20-%20For%20Web.pdf> > > (PDF) > > Assemblies of God Statement on Requirements for Ministry > <http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_downloads/pp_102909_Pentecostal_ministry_and_ordination.pdf> > > (PDF) > > Assemblies of God Views on Discipline and Self-Control > <http://ag.org/top/beliefs/topics/charctr_02_selfcontrol.cfm> > ------------------------------ > Buddhism > > There is no unified Buddhist law or central Buddhist authority in the > United States. While American Buddhists may agree on some core ethical > principles, Buddhist communities in the U.S. are largely autonomous and may > enforce rules differently. This contrasts with Buddhism in Asia, where the > religion’s major sects are organized around monasteries that are deeply > rooted in Buddhist law, according to Charles Prebish, professor emeritus of > religious studies at Penn State University and Utah State University. > “Buddhism, as it [has] moved west, has never been a strongly monastic > tradition,” Prebish says. > > The basic law or code of ethics embraced by all major Buddhist sects is > called the Vinaya. Each sect has its own variant of the Vinaya, usually > consisting of more than 200 rules to which all monks and nuns are expected > to adhere. The four most important rules are maintaining celibacy, not > stealing, not killing and not making false claims to spiritual attainment. > Laypersons are traditionally expected to follow five rules, which prohibit > killing, lying, stealing, taking intoxicants and having illicit sex. > > According to Thanissaro Bhikkhu, abbot of Metta Forest Monastery in > northern San Diego County, Buddhist sects in the United States are not as > hierarchical as those in Asia.10 > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#_ftn10> > > Instead, he says, Buddhist sects in the U.S. can best be described as > “membership organizations of individual and independent monasteries.” Even > within each sect, he says, there is no authority enforcing a standard > interpretation of the Vinaya. “There is no pope. Each community is its own > authority,” he says. > > The cohesiveness of Buddhist law in America is further diluted by the > diversity within communities, according to Paul Numrich, professor of > religion in the Theological Consortium of Greater Columbus, Ohio. Some > Buddhist communities include monks or nuns from more than one sect – > another practice that differentiates American Buddhists from their Asian > counterparts. Accordingly, Buddhist monks and nuns in American communities > must adjust the Vinaya to smooth out sectarian differences. In addition, > Numrich says, American monasteries tend to bend the rules to accommodate > modern life – for example, by allowing monks to wear shoes or ride in cars, > something generally not done in Asian monasteries. > > Though various American Buddhist communities have their own ethical > standards, monks and nuns – and, to a lesser degree, laypeople – still are > subject to discipline if they break their commitments to the Buddhist way > of life. According to Prebish, when monks violate the Vinaya, or when lay > Buddhists break one of the five central rules, they often receive some form > of punishment. For severe offenses, monastics can be expelled from their > communities and lose their status as monks and nuns. Laypeople also can > have their membership in a religious community revoked. > > *Disciplining Monastics* > > According to Thanissaro Bhikkhu, monks at his monastery are rarely > punished for minor infractions, such as eating at the wrong time of day. > However, when a monk is accused of a more serious offense, such as theft, > sexual immorality or “starting strife about the [monastery’s] rules or > teachings,” an investigation usually follows. Normally a council of about > four abbots from nearby monasteries will meet with the accused and the > accuser (who does not have to be a fellow monastic or even a Buddhist) to > ask questions and determine whether the monk is culpable. If the abbots > believe the charges are credible, they will attempt to obtain a confession. > A speedy confession is important because it can result in leniency. When a > monk will not confess to a violation of the Vinaya, even a minor one, his > whole community can vote on his status as a member of the group. With a > unanimous vote, the community can expel a wayward monk or even defrock him, > making him ineligible to enter another monastery. > > After confessing to a minor offense, a monk might be put on probation. > According to Thanissaro Bhikkhu, the probationary period usually lasts six > days plus the number of days the monk concealed the violation. Probation > normally consists of removing the monk from some of his daily duties, > especially anything involving leadership of novices. > > *Disciplining Lay Buddhists* > > There also is one situation in which lay Buddhists attached to the > monastery might be disciplined, Thanissaro Bhikkhu says. “If the monks are > convinced a particular [layperson] is trying to defame the monks or trying > to harm the monks, they can get together as a community and refuse to > accept alms from that person,” he says. In Buddhism, the giving of alms is > more than an act of charity; it helps lay Buddhists achieve spiritual > enlightenment by lessening their attachment to material things. Therefore, > when monks refuse to accept alms from someone, they make it difficult for > the person to continue to move forward in their practice of the faith. > > According to Thanissaro Bhikkhu, if a lay Buddhist breaks state or federal > law, Buddhist monks would not become involved. “There’s no ecclesiastical > court that deals with that kind of” misconduct, he says. > > *For More Information* > > The Buddhist Monk’s Discipline: Some Points Explained for Laypeople > <http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/khantipalo/wheel130.html> > ------------------------------ > Catholic Church > > Based on ancient Roman civil law and developed over many centuries, > Catholic canon law is complex and extensive, affecting the lives of both > ordained and lay Catholics. In the United States, canon law cases are > administered primarily by local tribunals, which largely handle > marriage-related cases in which no one is on trial. Less frequently, > American canon law tribunals will adjudicate disciplinary cases against > clergy. > > *The Canon Law Court System* > > Canon law is administered by a three-tiered hierarchy of courts within the > church, says Michael Ritty, founder of a canon law consultancy in Feura > Bush, N.Y. At the lowest level, each of the church’s 195 dioceses in the > United States has a Court of First Instance, which acts as a trial court. > The size and activities of these courts vary widely, according to Nicole > Delaney, director of the tribunal for the Diocese of Phoenix. Some have > large staffs and handle many cases each month, while others (generally in > smaller dioceses) are small and devoted almost exclusively to granting > marriage annulments. > > In addition, each diocese sends all appeals to an appellate court, known > as a Court of Second Instance, usually administered by the nearest larger > diocese, known as an archdiocese. The final authority on all penal and > non-penal cases is the Holy See, the church’s highest authority headed by > the pope and headquartered at the Vatican in Rome. The Holy See has a > number of final appeals courts. For instance, all marriage appeals are > disposed of by a tribunal called the Roman Rota. Most of the appeals in > penal cases end up at a court called the Apostolic Signatura. However, > appeals in penal cases involving charges of sexual abuse are handled by a > tribunal at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which oversees > church doctrine. > > *The Judicial Process* > > At the lowest (diocesan) level, trials are overseen by canon lawyers > acting as judges, who rule after reviewing evidence that has been collected > by the court and presented by counselors, who are known as advocates. While > one judge is adequate for uncontested marital cases, three judges are used > when the trial involves the possibility of excommunication, the dismissal > of a priest, or a marital case where major issues are being contested. > > “This is not an adversarial system like we have in secular courts in the > United States,” Ritty says. “Judges rather than advocates examine > witnesses.” However, Ritty adds, advocates for the parties involved do have > an opportunity to present arguments, with the defense advocate always > speaking last. > > In addition to the judges and the advocates for the parties involved, > there are often court officials who are tasked with representing various > positions. For instance, in marriage annulment cases, where the presumption > of an intact marital bond must be disproved, a person called the Defender > of the Bond argues before the court in favor of preserving the marriage. In > contentious penal cases, such as those involving priestly misconduct, an > official known as the Promoter of Justice is tasked with seeking the > public’s good, somewhat like a prosecutor in secular courts. > > *The Appeals Process* > > According to Delaney, judges’ decisions in marriage and penal cases must > be ratified by the Court of Second Instance. Since the Court of Second > Instance acts as an appeals court, it primarily reviews procedural matters, > ensuring that the trial at the Court of First Instance was conducted > properly. > > If the Courts of First and Second Instance return different rulings in a > marriage case, the Rota in Rome settles the matter. In addition, any party > can appeal directly to Rome, even if there is not a split decision, says > Monsignor Thomas Green, professor of canon law at the Catholic University > of America in Washington, D.C. > > *Types of Cases* > > Green says that “the vast majority” of cases in canon law tribunals are > marital. These include annulments as well as dispensations for Catholics to > marry non-Catholics.11 > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#_ftn11> > > According to statistics compiled by the Canon Law Society of America, > between 15,000 and 20,000 marriage annulment cases per year have come > before Catholic Courts of First Instance in recent years in the United > States.12 > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#_ftn12> > > The vast majority of these petitions for annulment ultimately were granted. > > According to Green, most other canon law trials in the U.S. involve penal > cases, which involve serious wrongdoing that often breaks secular criminal > laws. The most serious, including those involving sexual abuse allegations, > bypass the local tribunals and are tried in Rome. In total, Green estimates > that American Catholics are involved in 25,000 to 30,000 non-penal and > penal cases each year. > > In penal cases, the official known as the Promoter of Justice acts not > only as the public prosecutor but also as the chief investigator. Indeed, a > penal trial will not proceed unless the Promoter of Justice informs > officials that there is sufficient evidence to try someone for specific > canon law offenses. > > *For More Information* > > Roman Catholic Code of Canon Law > <http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_INDEX.HTM> > > Canon Law Society of America <http://www.clsa.org/> > > CanonLaw.info <http://www.canonlaw.info/index.html> (Website of Canon > Lawyer Edward Peters) > > Catholic News Agency on Marriage and Annulment > <http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resources/life-and-family/marriage/catholic-marriage-and-annulments/> > ------------------------------ > Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints > > *Disciplining Church Members and Religious Leaders* > > When a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) > seriously violates its teachings or doctrines, local ecclesiastical leaders > first attempt to facilitate repentance and reconciliation. “Our first hope > is always confession and contrition,” says Richard E. Bennett, a professor > of Mormon history and doctrine at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. > “We want to give people a chance to repent and change their lives.” In > addition to encouraging repentance, the church’s disciplinary process also > aims to protect the innocent from harm and to safeguard the integrity of > the church, Bennett says. > > There are a host of offenses that constitute misconduct – ranging from > criminal activity to apostasy, which Mormons define as teaching doctrines > or advocating practices in direct opposition to the church. In most cases, > only the most serious offenses lead to formal proceedings. In less serious > cases, the local bishop (the lay leader of a Mormon ward, or congregation) > may impose discipline informally, with an eye toward putting the person > back on the right track. Even serious cases that do not involve members of > the all-male priesthood are usually handled by the bishop or by a > disciplinary council that he convenes. > > The church does not have paid, professional clergy. “In our church, there > is a lay priesthood, and it extends to all worthy male members,” Bennett > says.13 > <http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/08/applying-gods-law-religious-courts-and-mediation-in-the-us/#_ftn13> > > If a transgression involves a member of the priesthood or serious charges > (such as serial adultery or the commission of criminal felonies) against > anyone in the church, the case may come before a body known as a Stake High > Council. A Mormon stake consists of several wards and is headed by a stake > president, who is also a layman. The Stake High Council is made up of 13 > male members of the church – the stake president and a dozen other local > leaders. > > *Disciplinary Procedures* > > The Stake High Council’s intent is not to punish or rebuke the accused, > says Bruce Hafen, president of the LDS Temple in St. George, Utah. “This is > not punitive. The majority of cases come from those who have confessed > rather than those who have been accused,” he says. Often, a case involves > someone who has confessed but has since repeated their bad behavior. “The > most common offenses are adultery and other sexual offenses,” Hafen says, > adding that a typical Stake High Council hears an average of three or four > cases a month. > > To prevent injustice or misunderstandings, up to six members of the Stake > High Council are prepared to speak on behalf of the alleged transgressor, > while six others defend the best interests of the church and any potential > innocent victims, such as children, who might be involved. After the > proceedings, the stake president determines guilt or innocence as well as > what course of action to take in cases in which the person is found guilty. > > Someone who is found guilty can be put on probation, which involves > stripping the person of certain church privileges (such as the right to > receive sacramental bread and water during services or the right to teach > Sunday school) for a short period of time. Disfellowship, which allows a > Mormon to retain church membership but not hold any offices or participate > in important ceremonies such as baptisms or administration of Communion, is > a more serious punishment. “Probation is often less formal than > disfellowship,” Hafen says, and other congregants often do not know when > someone is on probation. Disfellowship is more severe and more public, > Hafen adds. > > In the most serious cases, a person can be excommunicated, which means a > complete loss of church membership. However, even those who have been > excommunicated for serious offenses can work to be readmitted into the > church or, if they belonged to the lay priesthood, to regain their office. > > Disciplinary decisions at every level may be appealed to the president of > the entire church (who is viewed by Mormons as a prophet and seer) and his > top two counselors. These three function as the First Presidency, the > highest governing body of the church. But, according to Bennett, they > rarely intervene unless there is clear evidence that local authorities > acted inappropriately. The First Presidency “almost always supports what > was done at the local level,” he says. > > *Religious Marriage and Divorce* > > Mormons also have rules governing marriage and divorce. Because they > believe that a marriage “sealed” in a Mormon temple ensures that the > husband and wife will remain together for eternity, divorce is not taken > lightly. Still, if a couple is no longer living together and their efforts > and those of the church to preserve the marriage have failed, they can > petition the First Presidency to grant a cancellation of their sealing, > which is essentially an annulment. These petitions are quite common and the > requests are usually granted. Once the marriage is dissolved, each party is > free to marry another person in the temple. > > *For More Information* > > “Disciplinary Procedures > <http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/EoM/id/4391/show/5679>,” > > Encyclopedia of Mormonism > > Official Website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints > <http://www.lds.org/church/organization?lang=eng> > ------------------------------ > Episcopal Church of the United States > > *Disciplining Clergy* > > The governing structure, rules and procedures of the Episcopal Church are > set out in its Constitution and Canons, which were first ratified by the > church in 1785 and last amended in 2012. One part of the Constitution and > Canons concerns the disciplining of deacons, priests and bishops. Clergy > can face disciplinary action for a variety of offenses. These include > conducting worship services that differ significantly from approved church > liturgy; failing to safeguard church property or money; failing to perform > clerical duties; and misconduct, ranging from committing a crime to having > a sexual relationship with a congregant. > > When accusations are made against a priest or deacon, they are reviewed by > a church official known as an intake officer, usually a high-ranking member > of the clergy who serves the diocese in this position for a set period of > time. If the intake officer believes the accusations fall within the > disciplinary offenses outlined in the Constitution and Canons, the local > bishop will attempt, usually successfully, to settle the issue without > formal proceedings, says Stephen Hutchinson, chancellor of the Episcopal > Diocese of Utah. If, however, negotiations fail, the case is handed to a > disciplinary body known as a Conference Panel, which brings together all > parties – including the bishop, the intake officer and the accused cleric – > in an attempt to resolve the case. “This is not a trial, but a discussion,” > Hutchinson says, adding, “The goal here is to determine the best way > forward.” > > If no agreement or reconciliation is reached, the case against the priest > or deacon moves to a Hearing Panel, where civil lawyers for both sides > present evidence and examine witnesses. Ultimately, a three-judge panel, > made up of clergy and laymen, issues a verdict. If the cleric is found > guilty, he or she can appeal the decision to a diocesan body known as a > Provincial Court of Review. The court of review can overturn the verdict > only if they find procedural flaws in the trial; it does not reconsider the > Hearing Panel’s findings of fact in the case. > > Bishops are treated differently from other members of the clergy. If the > allegations concern deviation from church doctrine, the bishop is tried > before a panel of fellow bishops. If the charges concern other issues, such > as misuse of money or sexual impropriety, the bishop is tried before a > panel of bishops and priests or one consisting of deacons and lay members. > As with the trials of priests and deacons, proceedings against bishops also > involve civil lawyers and the presentation of evidence and witnesses. In > addition, any decision can be appealed to a Court of Review for Bishops, > which consists of nine bishops. Like the Provincial Court of Review, the > Court of Review for Bishops can only overturn a verdict if they discover > procedural flaws in the trial. > > *Disciplining Laypeople* > > Although the Episcopal Church rarely disciplines lay congregants, cases > against laymen occasionally arise. “You can still be excommunicated in the > Episcopal Church by bringing scandal upon the church – by publishing untrue > things about the church or its members or repeatedly disrupting church > services,” Hutchinson says. When a lay Episcopalian is accused of these > kinds of offenses, it is up to his or her priest to determine whether > excommunication is warranted. But excommunications can be appealed to the > local bishop. > > Excommunication is rare – Hutchinson notes, for example, that there has > been only one excommunication in the Utah diocese since he began working > there in 1985 – and it is not necessarily permanent. According to > Hutchinson, sincere repentance can end excommunication. There also are > lighter forms of discipline. For example, a congregant might lose certain > privileges but still retain church membership. “Sometimes people are simply > prevented from coming to the communion rail,” says David Beers chancellor > to the church’s presiding bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori. > > *For More Information* > > Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church > <http://www.episcopalarchives.org/CnC_ToC_2009.html> > > Episcopal Church Discipline: A Guide for the Laity > <http://episcopalchurchdiscipline.org/index.php/en/> > ------------------------------ > Evangelical Lutheran Church in America > > *Disciplining Religious Leaders* > > The governing structure and rules of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in > America (ECLA) are set out in its Constitution, Bylaws and Continuing > Resolutions. These documents lay out disciplinary procedures for cases > involving alleged misconduct by ordained ministers and certified lay > ministers (known as rostered leaders), such as a church’s musical director > or director of religious education. Both ordained ministers and rostered > leaders may be censured, suspended or removed from office for a variety of > offenses, ranging from deviation from church doctrine to adultery or the > commission of a crime. > > In cases where someone makes accusations against a minister or other > church leader, the local bishop investigates the allegations, including > speaking with the accused and his or her accusers. If the minister admits > to serious wrongdoing, such as having a sexual relationship with a > congregant, the bishop typically will ask the minister to resign from the > congregation and perhaps from the official roster of ministers as well. But > if the minister claims to be innocent or refuses to resign from the > ministry, the bishop may bring formal charges or appoint a committee of > clergy and lay representatives from the synod (regional district) to > investigate the allegations further and make a recommendation as to whether > formal disciplinary charges should be brought. > > If formal charges are filed against the minister, the case goes before a > discipline hearing committee made up of 12 clergy and lay members > > ... -- -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more. --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PoliticalForum" group. 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