Fellow Dads, let us do this with renewed energy and stedfastness. Let us live it. Where we have failed, we repent in earnest and with correction. Yet, given our manifold failures yet with the assurances of the covering of Christ, we refuse to give up the standards. We continue to hear the absolution of the BCP. Having said that, these standards are that...standards. Amazing, how kids understand this. Even this day, they are merciful and the children love us. As Marines say, "LBE." LBE = Lead by example. Let us be LBE-Dads. It's our calling, duty, and committment.
Showing posts with label Father's Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Father's Day. Show all posts
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Father's Day & Defamation of God the Father
Father's Day & Defamation of God the Father. Can our own earthly fathers be defamed? Can our neighbours be defamed?
More importantly, can God the Father be defamed?
Whatever re: the wider discussion is in the law, if anything, all father's, especially Pastors, ought study, know, ponder and meditate upon the Biblical definition of God, lest they misspeak or mischaracterize His Majesty, His Word and all His works.
Imagine someone libelling, defaming and mischaracterizing you or your family? Imagine the same by those in the pulpit.
We believe that God is misrepresented very often by negligent and, in many cases, intentional defamation. We believe this is often expressed in pulpits, in worship, in books, magazines and other centres of influence. This results "in harm" to followers and the speaker. It does not harm God, our Invincible Rock--in fact, He scoffs at defamers, cf. (and sing) Psalm 2.
From Cornell University Law School's website:
The tort of defamation includes both libel and slander.
To establish a prima facie case of defamation, four elements are generally required: a false statement purporting to be fact concerning another person or entity; publication or communication of that statement to a third person; fault on the part of the person making the statement amounting to intent or at least negligence; and some harm caused to the person or entity who is the subject of the statement.
Defamation is a "tort," as definied below:
A civil wrong which can be redressed by awarding damages. See, e.g. Smith v. United States, 507 U.S. 197 (1993).
Among the types of damages the injured party may recover are: loss of earnings capacity, pain and suffering, and reasonable medical expenses. They include both present and future expected losses.
There are numerous specific torts including trespass, assault, battery, negligence, products liability, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Torts fall into three general categories: intentional torts (e.g., intentionally hitting a person); negligent torts (e.g., causing an accident by failing to obey traffic rules); and strict liability torts(e.g., liability for making and selling defective products - See Products Liability). Intentional torts are those wrongs which the defendant knew or should have known would occur through their actions or inactions. Negligent torts occur when the defendant's actions were unreasonably unsafe. Strict liability wrongs do not depend on the degree of carefulness by the defendant, but are established when a particular action causes damage. There are also separate areas of tort law including nuisance, defamation, invasion of privacy, and a category of economic torts. Tort law is state law created through judges (common law) and by legislatures (statutory law). Many judges and states utilize the Restatement of Torts (2nd) as an influential guide. The Restatement is a publication prepared by the American Law Institute whose aim is to present an orderly statement of the general law of the United States.
More importantly, can God the Father be defamed?
Whatever re: the wider discussion is in the law, if anything, all father's, especially Pastors, ought study, know, ponder and meditate upon the Biblical definition of God, lest they misspeak or mischaracterize His Majesty, His Word and all His works.
Imagine someone libelling, defaming and mischaracterizing you or your family? Imagine the same by those in the pulpit.
We believe that God is misrepresented very often by negligent and, in many cases, intentional defamation. We believe this is often expressed in pulpits, in worship, in books, magazines and other centres of influence. This results "in harm" to followers and the speaker. It does not harm God, our Invincible Rock--in fact, He scoffs at defamers, cf. (and sing) Psalm 2.
From Cornell University Law School's website:
Any statement, whether written or oral, that injures a third party's reputation.
See, e.g. Buckley v. Fitzsimmons, 509 U.S. 259 (1993).
The tort of defamation includes both libel and slander.
To establish a prima facie case of defamation, four elements are generally required: a false statement purporting to be fact concerning another person or entity; publication or communication of that statement to a third person; fault on the part of the person making the statement amounting to intent or at least negligence; and some harm caused to the person or entity who is the subject of the statement.Defamation is a "tort," as definied below:
A civil wrong which can be redressed by awarding damages. See, e.g. Smith v. United States, 507 U.S. 197 (1993).
tort law: an overview
Torts are civil wrongs recognized by law as grounds for a lawsuit. These wrongs result in an injury or harm constituting the basis for a claim by the injured party. While some torts are also crimes punishable with imprisonment, the primary aim of tort law is to provide relief for the damages incurred and deter others from committing the same harms. The injured person may sue for an injunction to prevent the continuation of the tortious conduct or for monetary damages.(See Damages)Among the types of damages the injured party may recover are: loss of earnings capacity, pain and suffering, and reasonable medical expenses. They include both present and future expected losses.
There are numerous specific torts including trespass, assault, battery, negligence, products liability, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Torts fall into three general categories: intentional torts (e.g., intentionally hitting a person); negligent torts (e.g., causing an accident by failing to obey traffic rules); and strict liability torts(e.g., liability for making and selling defective products - See Products Liability). Intentional torts are those wrongs which the defendant knew or should have known would occur through their actions or inactions. Negligent torts occur when the defendant's actions were unreasonably unsafe. Strict liability wrongs do not depend on the degree of carefulness by the defendant, but are established when a particular action causes damage. There are also separate areas of tort law including nuisance, defamation, invasion of privacy, and a category of economic torts. Tort law is state law created through judges (common law) and by legislatures (statutory law). Many judges and states utilize the Restatement of Torts (2nd) as an influential guide. The Restatement is a publication prepared by the American Law Institute whose aim is to present an orderly statement of the general law of the United States.
Definition from Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary
An injury to one person for which the person who caused the injury is legally responsible. A tort can be intentional -- for example, an angry punch in the nose -- but is far more likely to result from carelessness (called "negligence"), such as riding your bicycle on the sidewalk and colliding with a pedestrian. While the injury that forms the basis of a tort is usually physical, this is not a requirement -- libel, slander, and the "intentional infliction of mental distress" are on a good-sized list of torts not based on a physical injury. A tort is a civil wrong, as opposed to a criminal wrong. Compare: crime
Definition provided by Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary.Father's Day, Perjury, Truth, WLC, and Legal Resources (Definition, USC, SCOTUS)
Abstract: Father's Day 2011. For sons, fathers and grandfathers, let us strengthen our continuuing effort, for family, church and nation, to the issues of thinking, feeling, and speaking the truth. This notably applies to all venturing to represent God. Some thoughts from US lawcodes, but also the finest English-speaking Catechism in the West, the Westminster Larger Catechism. [emphasis added by highlights]
From Cornell University Law School's website: http://topics.law.cornell.edu/wex/perjury
The Westminster Larger Catechism
Q. 143. Which is the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Q. 144. What are the duties required in the ninth commandment?
A. The duties required in the ninth commandment are, the preserving and promoting of truth between man and man, and the good name of our neighbor, as well as our own; appearing and standing for the truth; and from the heart, sincerely, freely, clearly, and fully, speaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters of judgment and justice, and in all other things whatsoever; a charitable esteem of our neighbors; loving, desiring, and rejoicing in their good name; sorrowing for and covering of their infirmities; freely acknowledging of their gifts and graces, defending their innocency; a ready receiving of a good report, and unwillingness to admit of an evil report, concerning them; discouraging talebearers, flatterers, and slanderers; love and care of our own good name, and defending it when need requireth; keeping of lawful promises; studying and practicing of whatsoever things are true, honest, lovely, and of good report.
Q. 145. What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbors, as well as our own, especially in public judicature; giving false evidence, suborning false witnesses, wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, outfacing and overbearing the truth; passing unjust sentence, calling evil good, and good evil; rewarding the wicked according to the work of the righteous, and the righteous according to the work of the wicked; forgery, concealing the truth, undue silence in a just cause, and holding our peace when iniquity calleth for either a reproof from ourselves, or complaint to others; speaking the truth unseasonably, or maliciously to a wrong end, or perverting it to a wrong meaning, or in doubtful or equivocal expressions, to the prejudice of the truth or justice; speaking untruth, lying, slandering, backbiting, detracting, talebearing, whispering, scoffing, reviling, rash, harsh, and partial censuring; misconstructing intentions, words, and actions; flattering, vainglorious boasting, thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others; denying the gifts and graces of God; aggravating smaller faults; hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession; unnecessary discovering of infirmities; raising false rumors, receiving and countenancing evil reports, and stopping our ears against just defense; evil suspicion; envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any; endeavoring or desiring to impair it, rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy; scornful contempt, fond admiration; breach of lawful promises; neglecting such things as are of good report, and practicing, or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering what we can in others, such things as procure an ill name.
From Cornell University Law School's website: http://topics.law.cornell.edu/wex/perjury
"Generally, a witness in a trial commits perjury when he knowingly and intentionally lies about a material issue. The precise definition of this crime varies by jurisdiction. Federal law prohibits perjury, 18 U.S.C. § 1621, as well as other false declarations before federal courts. § 1623. See Dunn v. U.S., 442 U.S. 100 (1979). See also State Civil Procedure Statutes."
18 USC 1621
18 USC 1621
§ 1621. Perjury generally
"Whoever—is guilty of perjury and shall, except as otherwise expressly provided by law, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. This section is applicable whether the statement or subscription is made within or without the United States.
--(1) having taken an oath before a competent tribunal, officer, or person, in any case in which a law of the United States authorizes an oath to be administered, that he will testify, declare, depose, or certify truly, or that any written testimony, declaration, deposition, or certificate by him subscribed, is true, willfully and contrary to such oath states or subscribes any material matter which he does not believe to be true; or
"The crime of intentionally lying after being duly sworn to tell the truth by a notary public, court clerk, or other official. This false statement may be made in testimony in court, administrative hearings, depositions, or answers to interrogatories, as well as by signing or acknowledging a written legal document (such as an affidavit, declaration under penalty of perjury, deed, license application, or tax return) known to contain false information."
DUNN V. UNITED STATES, 442 U. S. 100 (1979), a governing ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States. Syllabus and full text: http://supreme.justia.com/us/442/100/case.html
Q. 143. Which is the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Q. 144. What are the duties required in the ninth commandment?
A. The duties required in the ninth commandment are, the preserving and promoting of truth between man and man, and the good name of our neighbor, as well as our own; appearing and standing for the truth; and from the heart, sincerely, freely, clearly, and fully, speaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters of judgment and justice, and in all other things whatsoever; a charitable esteem of our neighbors; loving, desiring, and rejoicing in their good name; sorrowing for and covering of their infirmities; freely acknowledging of their gifts and graces, defending their innocency; a ready receiving of a good report, and unwillingness to admit of an evil report, concerning them; discouraging talebearers, flatterers, and slanderers; love and care of our own good name, and defending it when need requireth; keeping of lawful promises; studying and practicing of whatsoever things are true, honest, lovely, and of good report.
Q. 145. What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbors, as well as our own, especially in public judicature; giving false evidence, suborning false witnesses, wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, outfacing and overbearing the truth; passing unjust sentence, calling evil good, and good evil; rewarding the wicked according to the work of the righteous, and the righteous according to the work of the wicked; forgery, concealing the truth, undue silence in a just cause, and holding our peace when iniquity calleth for either a reproof from ourselves, or complaint to others; speaking the truth unseasonably, or maliciously to a wrong end, or perverting it to a wrong meaning, or in doubtful or equivocal expressions, to the prejudice of the truth or justice; speaking untruth, lying, slandering, backbiting, detracting, talebearing, whispering, scoffing, reviling, rash, harsh, and partial censuring; misconstructing intentions, words, and actions; flattering, vainglorious boasting, thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others; denying the gifts and graces of God; aggravating smaller faults; hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession; unnecessary discovering of infirmities; raising false rumors, receiving and countenancing evil reports, and stopping our ears against just defense; evil suspicion; envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any; endeavoring or desiring to impair it, rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy; scornful contempt, fond admiration; breach of lawful promises; neglecting such things as are of good report, and practicing, or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering what we can in others, such things as procure an ill name.
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