Philippines JW SUPREME COURT SCANDAL

DannyHaszard

This you gotta see! Philippines JW cleared in supreme court of shacking up Supreme Court says living-in not immoral
Manila Standard Today, Philippines - 8 minutes ago
... In a landmark decision, the court recently cleared Soledad Escritor, a court interpreter and member of Jehovah’s Witnesses, of immorality for cohabiting with ... Supreme Court says living-in not immoral By Rey E. Requejo COUPLES living together without marrying are not being immoral if their religion allows it, the Supreme Court has ruled. In a landmark decision, the court recently cleared Soledad Escritor, a court interpreter and member of Jehovah’s Witnesses, of immorality for cohabiting with Luciano Quilapio Jr. without the benefit of marriage and having a child by him. Voting 9-5, the court affirmed Escritor’s right to the union after it cited the “benevolent neutrality approach that gives room for accommodation of religious exercises as required by the Free Exercise Clause.” “Thus, we find that in this particular case and under these distinct circumstances, respondent Escritor’s conjugal arrangement cannot be penalized as she has made out a case for exemption from the law based on her fundamental right to freedom of religion,” the tribunal said in a 63-page decision written by Associate Justice Reynato Puno. “The court recognizes that state interest must be upheld in order that freedoms—including religious freedom-—may be enjoyed.” But five associate justices led by Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban dissented, warning the decision could open the floodgates to people who would use religion as an excuse to enter into immoral conjugal relationships. “The majority opinion will make every religion a separate republic, making religion a haven for criminal conduct that, otherwise, would be punishable under the laws of the land,” Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said. “Today, concubinage. Tomorrow, bigamy will enjoy protection from criminal sanction under the new doctrine foisted by the majority opinion. This case is about a religious cover for an obviously criminal act.” On July 27, 2000, one Alejandro Estrada filed an administrative complaint against Escritor before a Las Piñas court claiming that her union with her common-law husband constituted an “immoral act that tarnished the image of the court.” But Escritor insisted that the conjugal arrangement conformed to her religious beliefs and had her congregation’s approval. She said that after 10 years of the union, she and her spouse executed a “Declaration of Pledging Faithfulness,” which “allows members of the congregation who have been abandoned by their spouses to enter into marital relations.” She told the Supreme Court that the “elders of the congregation” approved the relationship after confirming that her husband had left her. [email protected] contact paper

ICBehindtheCurtain

WHAT YOU SAY????? THIS IS CRAZY! I'd like to see the R&F pull that CRAP here! and see how far they get before being DF'd. OH Danny, This is a good one! THANK YOU!!!!

IC

DannyBloem

In some cases it is allowed in the philippines to live together as jehovah's witnesses without being married.

Danny B

Highlander

I guess they don't have to follow ceasar's law as jesus commanded.

Here in the states we were always taught to obey the local authorities unless it goes against following god's laws.

I'm sorry, but this is not one of those cases. If her pervious husband left her,, well then deal with it, don't break the law and try and justify it religiously.

DannyBloem

I guess they don't have to follow ceasar's law as jesus commanded.
Here in the states we were always taught to obey the local authorities unless it goes against following god's laws.

The states of island? (well many countries are made up of united states, but not island I think) Anyway, it's it a bit the case. That the local authorities do not follow Gods laws here? And also it is considerate of the society, IMHO DB

Highlander

The states of island? (well many countries are made up of united states, but not island I think)
Anyway, it's it a bit the case. That the local authorities do not follow Gods laws here. And also it is considerate of the society, IMHO DB

Let me clarify, Here in the United States of America JW's are taught to obey the local authorities unless it goes against god's laws.
I don't care how considerate you think the society is being,, it's still illegal. And guess what? In the philippines, though divorce is illegal there, you can still get an anullment if you
have a legitimate reason that you can document. If the elders felt their was sufficient evidence to grant an illegal marriage then surely there's enough evidence to seek an anullment.
And if there isn't enough evidence? Then obey the law.

blondie

Actually, the WTS has been allowing marriages between JWs who cannot get any divorce under the laws of the country they live in since 1973. Some strongly Catholic countries did not allow divorce even secularly until very recently.

The WTS would investigate each case and see that there were "scriptural" grounds for a divorce but one could not be obtained legally/secularly in that country.

***

tp73 chap. 13 p. 151 Your View of Sex—What Difference Does It Make? ***

What if the laws of a land do not allow any divorce, even on the ground of sexual immorality? An innocent mate in such case might be able to obtain a divorce in a country where divorce is permitted. Circumstances, of course, may not make this possible. But some form of legal separation may be available in one’s own country and could then be sought. Whichever the case, the innocent mate could separate from the guilty one and present definite proof of Scriptural grounds for divorce to the elders who serve in a judicial capacity in the local congregation of Jehovah’s Christian witnesses. Then if that one were later to decide to take another mate, the congregation would not act to remove him as an adulterer from the congregation, provided a written statement is filed with the congregation. This statement must contain a vow of faithfulness to the present mate and agreement to obtain a legal marriage certificate if the estranged legal mate should die. Nevertheless, the individual would have to face whatever consequences this might result in for him as far as the world outside the congregation is concerned. For the world does not generally recognize that God’s law is superior to human laws and that such human laws have only relative authority.—Compare Acts 5:29.

Blondie

DannyBloem

Let me clarify, Here in the United States of America JW's are taught to obey the local authorities unless it goes against god's laws. I don't care how considerate you think the society is being,, it's still illegal. And guess what? In the philippines, though divorce is illegal there, you can still get an annullment if you have a legitimate reason that you can document.

Yes you are right, there is an annullment. However this is not always easy or possible to get. You have to document it (which is not always possible)
not that the society is always so considerate, but in this case I think they are right. Anyway, nowbody really cares too much about living together there, so there isn't really a big problem with illegal action. Like here 9and in the USA) there are some old laws that are more or less obsolete, but still official valid. Knowbody would care too much about them anymore. DB

DannyHaszard

Supreme Court says living-in not immoral
Manila Standard Today, Philippines - 3 hours ago
... In a landmark decision, the court recently cleared Soledad Escritor, a court interpreter and member of Jehovah’s Witnesses, of immorality for cohabiting with ... SC: Live-in OK, but… Journal Online SC upholds religious freedom in case written by Justice Puno Manila Bulletin SC recognizes common-law marriages Sun.Star
all 3 related »

FairMind

If I understand correctly, Ms. Escritor was scripturally free to remarry but not legally free to do so under Philippine law. So the WTS allowed her to live as a common-law wife of Luciano Quilapio Jr. This to me sounds reasonable and just and must have seemed so as well to the Philippine Supreme Court. So what is the problem?

Philippines JW SUPREME COURT SCANDAL

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