Texas high court rules exorcism protected by law

[Wags]

Chron.com - Texas high court rules exorcism protected by law

Texas high court rules exorcism protected by law | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Excerpts from the article

In a 6-3 decision, the justices found that a lower court erred when it said the Pleasant Glade Assembly of God's First Amendment rights regarding freedom of religion did not prevent the church from being held liable for mental distress triggered by a "hyper-spiritualistic environment."

Justice David Medina wrote that finding the church liable "would have an unconstitutional 'chilling effect' by compelling the church to abandon core principles of its religious beliefs."

But Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson, in a dissenting opinion, stated that the "sweeping immunity" is inconsistent with U.S. Supreme Court precedent and extends far beyond the Constitution's protections for religious conduct.

"The First Amendment guards religious liberty; it does not sanction intentional abuse in religion's name," Jefferson wrote.

End of excerpts.

The Texas Supreme Court's 6 to 3 ruling preserve's the church's core principles of it's religious beliefs.

If the case goes to the U.S Supreme Court it will be interesting to see how they might rule.

God Bless Us All

[Wags]

It will be interesting to see how this decision by the Texas Supreme Court might affect the current legal situation between the FLDS and Texas legal system.

Salt Lake Tribute - Cult expert: Texas shouldn't have released FLDS kids

Cult expert: Texas shouldn't have released FLDS kids - Salt Lake Tribune

Excerpts from the article

PHILADELPHIA - By sending the children in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints back home, Texas has opened up the doors to groups who want religious protection for abusing children, a leading church/state scholar said Saturday.

Marci Hamilton, a professor at Princeton and Yeshiva University's Cardozo Law School, told a conference of the International Cultic Studies Association that the Texas Supreme Court's decision to release the FLDS children from foster care paired with a ruling Friday that tossed out an award for injuries a teenager suffered during an exorcism made a dangerous statement.

"When you add yesterday's decision to FLDS, the state of the Texas has just sent out an engraved invitation to any group who wants to abuse children," Hamilton said. The two decisions make "Texas a very dangerous place for children."

End of excerpts.

A separation of church and state?

God Bless Us All