Saturday, February 08, 2014

British court summons Mormon head on fraud allegations related to church doctrine

A British magistrate has issued an extraordinary summons to the worldwide leader of the Mormon church alleging that its teachings about mankind amount to fraud.

Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been ordered to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London next month to defend the church’s doctrines including beliefs about Adam and Eve and Native Americans.

A formal summons signed by District Judge Elizabeth Roscoe warns Mr Monson, who is recognised by Mormons as God’s prophet on Earth, that a warrant for his arrest could be issued if he fails to make the journey from Salt Lake City, Utah, for a hearing on March 14.

In one of the most unusual documents ever issued by a British court, it lists seven teachings of the church, including that Native Americans are descended from a family of ancient Israelites as possible evidence of fraud. 
Read the rest here.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

This sounds like something that could lead to dangerous precedent. Could, theoretically, a similar judge issue a subpoena for the Pope or even an Orthodox Patriarch?

Npinkpanther said...

^ I agree. Even though it's Mormons, I couldn't believe this when I read it. It amounts to the state compelling religious leaders to "prove" their dogma is true. It's like Richard Dawkins with a gavel.

But then again, this is in a Magistrates Court, which is a lower court, so there is a chance this could be challenged and overturned.

lannes said...

This asinine decision deserves to be laughed at, not "challenged" or
"overturned". The latter would give it too much legitimacy and thus lead to more such legal actions.

Visibilium said...

This controversy will provide me with sufficient material to boost my conversation around 2014's Christmas dinner table. Usually, I eat Christmas dinner at a colleague's house. His mother-in-law is a recent and militant convert to Mormonism.

I kept pressing my colleague to invite a convenient Roman priest so that the priest and I could determine aloud whether Mormonism could be considered a cult.

The idiocy of Mormonism's beliefs provides me with a more fecund topic. Deo gratias!

The Anti-Gnostic said...

Time apparently weighs very heavily on the hands of British magistrates.

Colin Clout said...

In related (though 80 years belated) news, German courts demand leading Rabbis prove the truth of Judaism.