I know a TBM who is a Freemason and was while serving in a bishopric.
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I did not "sue" the church. I prosecuted them for a crime they have committed.
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You are wrong, there is a contract. Even though contractual law applies to verbal as well as written agreements, with TSCC there are both written (baptismal recommend that is signed by applicant and bishop or missionary) and verbal. You agree to live by certain rules, including the payment of "membership fees" (tithing), in exchange for membership in the church and the promise of 'et
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You say "But in other cases like this one or the Tom Phillips case, it is difficult for me to see where any court would rule in favor of the plaintiffs knowing full well that such a decision would be a dramatic incursion into constitutional religious freedom guarantees." However, under UK law there are no "constitutional religious freedom guarantees." Just because there may
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There have been many discussions on whether the 15 know it's a scam. Conclusions have ranged from outright liars and fraudsters to 100% believers who sincerely consider they "know" the church is true. I have my own views, based on personal experience with most of the current 15 and past members of the 15. However, it does not really matter which opinion you form or accept. The bot
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I am retired. I often buy from Amazon and usually get delivery in 2 days. Although you can't actually sign up for amazon prime. We do now have Netflix, previously we had to use a vpn. We can also watch all the tennis grand slams through a subscription to eurosport. Recently enjoyed the Australian Open. We can get all we need here and, if not, amazon etc. provide anything we can't get. Pa
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So happy to hear that Briggy. Tom
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Well here in Gozo we have no Mormons. Even the 'big' island of Malta has no Mormon meetinghouse. Gozo is paradise (for us anyway). No Mormons, not even Mormon missionaries. Great climate, Mediterranean Sea, great wine and food, wonderful people and yes, it is English speaking. 9 miles by 4.5 miles with 7,000 year old temples. It is thought to be the 'Calypso' island, written about by Homer.
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Yes, Oaks and Holland are the power brokers now. They are the future for TSCC.
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That is your personal opinion based on what? Certainly not an understanding of the law. As to the church's "legal and political influence at the highest levels in the UK" - it does not exist. The church is insignificant in the UK and I have already received written confirmation from the Prime Minister and the Attorney General that there will be no political involvement or interferenc
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The FA 2006 provides a definition of fraud which applies to TSCC's truth claims. Interestingly, at the hearing to get the summons withdrawn they did not argue it was not fraud. They conceded they fell within the definition but claimed their statements were the 'beliefs of members of the church' (note - not Monson's beliefs) and, as such, were non justiciable. Judge Riddle erroneously accepted
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The question by the OP is easier to answer if it is reworded into 2 parts as follows:- (1) Can fraud be prosecuted? Answer = a resounding YES. (2) Can a religious organisation be prosecuted for fraud? Answer = again a resounding YES. Now the actual legal definition of fraud may be challenging to prove. Richard Packham has already outlined on his website the 7 part test the US requires a
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I accept you are correct under US law. However, in the UK, a citizen can actually make an arrest. For instance, if someone attended a talk by Monson or Holland given at a venue in England or Wales (not Scotland or Northern Ireland) and a false representation was made in their talk, an individual could arrest them. They would go to the podium and simply state they were arresting them, then p
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Thanks lilburne. I appreciate your support. TSCC appear to be guilty of fraud, slander/libel and breaking consumer laws. Also tax evasion and covering up sex abuse.
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Unless someone else wishes to volunteer to take this forward, the timing will depend on me and I have other interests. In some ways I want to leave Mormonism behind me but, as nobody has yet offered to take this over from me, I will see it to conclusion, but at my own pace. I have already spent a considerable amount of time with the highest authorities in the UK. Time now for the further specific
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The case did not refer to Judge Riddle specifically as it had already been argued before Judge Riddle's Ruling. That is why he should have been aware of it. The SC decision was not released until June 2014. The SC decision concerned whether a court could consider religious beliefs in CIVIL matters. It was already established law that a UK court could consider religious matters in CRIMINAL case
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Judge Riddle was wrong. Just ask Judge Roscoe and the lawyers that looked at the actual evidence (which Judge Riddle ignored). His main argument, that religious beliefs are 'non justiciable', was wrong in law (UK) at the time and 3 months later overturned by the Supreme Court. His arguments will not work next time. However, the prosecution was not based on religious beliefs but statements o
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Thanks cricket. The truth from Jeff Holland at last.
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....and your legal arguments (substantiated by legal statute and evidence) are...?
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As allmade up says "But the church will use its mighty war chest and every subversive trick in the book to halt or postpone any further action." TSCC did that in the first prosecution but will not succeed in the next.
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UK Lawyer, Please email me at tomphillips@romneysfaith.com to discuss strategy. Regarding a civil action in the UK, a criminal prosecution can also include compensation for vistims, i.e. a return of tithing paid (since January 2007). Let's discuss off line. Tom
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From a book titled "Doubt is their Product". http://www.amazon.co.uk/Doubt-Their-Product-Industrys-Threatens/dp/019530067X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1452765173&sr=1-1&keywords=doubt+is+their+product "Doubt is our product," a cigarette executive once observed, "since it is the best means of competing with the 'body of fact' that exists in the minds
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IMO it will never end, but will cease to grow (already has in real terms, except through procreation and brainwashing by TBMs) and will continue to diminish in attendance. It will end up with only members who are wilfully ignorant as all of the proofs of its fraud will be readily accessible to everyone. By "wilfully ignorant" I mean those who refuse to consider anything that may be c
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Riddle's ruling was wrong in law and in fact. Next time the church will be unable to use their unlawful tactics.
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Thanks azsteve. As you know "it ain't over yet".
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I don't think most Brits wanted him banned. They wanted him to come and have a proper debate. The petition you saw calling for a ban was instigated by people who were not necessarily well informed and, in their own way, guilty of what they were trying to ban. No, most Brits would welcome him to have an open discussion, "free speech" is encouraged and protected, but not incitement
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No, I now live in Gozo, a small island next to Malta.
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Malta comes under an Italian mission. Though small (population of 420k) TSCC thought they could grow as they converted a villa to a meetinghouse and put in at least 10 missionaries at a time. Total fail if they have less than 20 real members in a population of 420k. As I mentioned in OP the JWs, by comparison have 650 real members, achieved in a short period. As you ask, I have lived in Malta
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I have never attended a meeting in Malta so I do not have concrete evidence. My guess is up to 20 but that guess is based on evidence from others. I had a friend who attended back in 2007. He said there were about 25 in attendance, made up of 8 missionaries (6 elders and 1 couple), himself (nevermo) and wife (exmo) and most of the others were immigrants from the Philipinnes who joined the chur
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Yesterday I took a detour and passed the one meetinghouse TSCC has in Malta. It has now reverted to its former use, a small villa. There is even a blank square space on a door post where the plaque used to be, displaying the name of the church. I then did a search to find a meeting place in Malta and the nearest was in Sicily (Italy). I don't know if any posters can confirm that TSCC has cl
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