Canada May Legalize Polygamy

When charges against Winston Blackmore and Jim Oler were dropped, many of us thought the great polygamy challenge we hoped for in Canada, was done for the foreseeable future. Wrongo.

FoxNews - "Attorney General Mike de Jong said he believes polygamy is against the law and should remain so, but he said the justice system needs clarity about whether Canada's law barring multiple marriages is constitutional.

Two Canadian laws stand in contradiction: Polygamy is banned, and religious freedoms are firmly protected.

The move comes a month after a judge quashed polygamy charges against two leaders of a polygamous community in western Canada. The judge ruled the province did not have the authority to appoint a special prosecutor to consider the cases of Winston Blackmore and James Oler after previous prosecutors recommended against charges.

The government has decided to seek the British Columbia Supreme Court opinion rather than appeal that court ruling. De Jong said the case may ultimately have to be decided by the Supreme Court of Canada."

Hip Hip Hooray for Mike de Jong then. The only benefit to pro polygyny advocates of polygyny persecutions is that one day prosecuters will maneuver themselves into a court challenge that strikes down anti polygamy laws.

Thanks Mike. Bravo. Let's have our day in court.

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Apparently, there will be no Polygamy Test Case in Canada

The charges against Blackmore and Oler? Dropped. Child abuse? Not even mentioned.

The Canadian Press/CTV - "A British Columbia court decision has quashed polygamy charges against two controversial B.C. religious leaders.

Winston Blackmore and James Oler were arrested earlier this year in Bountiful, B.C., and charged with one count each of polygamy.

The men had petitioned the court to stay the charges, arguing that the B.C. attorney general had gone 'special prosecutor shopping' until he found someone who would go ahead with charges.

In a decision released Wednesday, B.C. Supreme Court Judge Sunni Stromberg-Stein agreed.

The judge said the province's attorney general did not have the jurisdiction to appoint a second special prosecutor to consider charges against Blackmore and Oler after the first special prosecutor recommended against charging the two men.

She found that the appointment of the second special prosecutor -- and therefore the decision to charge the men was 'unlawful.'

The attorney general had no jurisdiction to appoint a second special prosecutor, the judge concluded."

Will the charges be brought back?

"(Blackmore and Oler's attorney) said he's not sure whether the charges could be resurrected.

'I believe this will be the end of the criminal case but what the judge has actually done is to quash the appointment of the special prosecutor,' (Bruce Elwood) said.

The B.C. Criminal Justice Branch will have to decide what they will do now, he said."

So, they went venue shopping to "get" someone. How strange. It is probably not an accident that the Canada avoided a "Charter Rights" issue at the same time.

Renn Oldbuster is all over it.

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Ringing in the Era of State Sponsored Religion, in North America.

A premise for you to consider, if you think yourself capable of detached rational thought. Suppose, just for a moment, that God has created Men, directly in his image, and women, as a derivative of men, taken out of men, still reflecting God's image, but for man.

Namely, women would not exist if they were not for men. To read and accept as truth the creation story of Genesis you would have to come to this conclusion, or at least you'd be likely to. Now read Mindelle Jacobs article;

The Winnipeg Sun - "If we didn't like it, we wouldn't be here," a 28-year-old Bountiful mother of five who shares her husband with another woman told Sun Media last week. "It's as normal as a family can be."

This should be accepted at face value. If we do not accept this at face value, then we have to appoint religion and thought police to regulate what is acceptable to believe, and what religions are permitted. Mindelle believes she is qualified.

"(the above) comments reflect the devastating damage that the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) and its polygamous lifestyle is having on Bountiful girls.

Females raised to believe that sharing their partners with multiple sister-wives is normal have been psychologically stunted by a sex-driven patriarchy. They just don't know it."

And of course, Mindelle is here to set things right. To accomplish this though, the religion of the Latter Day Saints must be completely eradicated. All their books burned, sought out, destroyed and its adherents marched off to concentration camps and systematically exterminated. This is not hyperbolic, it is a fact. Religions survive on fundamentalism. If it's just a cool story reflective of something in our collective psyche that deserves to be examined, reexamined and reinterpreted in the context of changing conditions and our ongoing evolution as a society, once that is known, the religion dies.

People by and large come to religion to get answers. They may be deluded and in fact we would have to say if we believe in objective truth in religion and the physical world, all religions save one, are delusions. If we deal with a God who delights in cruelty, or no God at all, then they're all delusions.

Elitists come to religion because of the crowd it gathers, because they have their own ego-centric agenda, they see a crowd, and they want access to that crowd so as to manipulate them, for their own purposes. Such persons are theological liberals, talking in God Words and Phrases that sound as if they agree with the fundamental tenets of a faith, but in fact, do not. What Mindelle proposes, and just doesn't know it, is that she believes society is the ultimate authority, and certifies all religion. Society is expressed through Government. Government is God. Government is content to allow religion to exist, as long as Government can tell religion what to believe.

Mindelle, religions die if the great unwashed out here (us) cease to believe that their God has sway over all worldly things. They abandon their religion. They may seek another. They do not stay in a "faith" that is shown to be simply a form of self expression or worse, government manipulation. Religions that hold to a basic set of beliefs without changing, grow or persist. Religions that change with the times shrink and are eventually abandoned.

I believe the LDS/Mormon/FLDS faith to be wrong. I would have to. I'm Orthodox Presbyterian. It is not however my place to tell them what to believe, for if it became my place to do so, by agency of the Government, then I too would submit to Government telling me what to believe. That's not going to happen.

She then descends to hysteria and falsehoods.

"Canada does not permit female genital mutilation -- a barbaric cultural/quasi-religious practice."

Female genital mutilation is a "quasi-religious practice" at best. It is irreversible. Government has no problem with divorce, so let these women do as they see best, regardless of who programmed them. If they're outwardly happy in their programming. There's nothing you can do, and more importantly, nothing you should do, other than talk to them if they are willing.

"Nor do we condone so-called honour killings of women deemed to have breached the norms of sexual behaviour. Such killings, tragically, are slowly creeping into western societies."

"Honour Killings" again are irreversible. At least in the Christian faith and its offshoots and new religions that have their roots in Christianity, civil punishment is not the province of the church. The only tool open to them is excommunication. Winston Blackmore is in Canada for precisely that reason.

Judaism can only practice its "intolerance" within the borders of its nation and to its fullest extent among its adherents while in that nation. Don't come to me and tell me it proposes stoning children in this country for disobedience. I have not seen any stories that suggest otherwise.

Christians and Jews in the United States and Canada need to wake up and stand with the FLDS, with Warren Jeffs, with Winston Blackmore and Jim Oler. If we do not, we're next. I have only to change a few words in the above quotes of Ms. Jacobs article. What if her article said this?

"her comment reflects the devastating damage that the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and its chauvinistic heterosexual lifestyle is having on young homosexuals who are programmed to live as heterosexuals.

Lesbians raised to believe that traditional marriage roles are normal have been psychologically stunted by a sex-driven patriarchy. They just don't know it."

Of course, then those victims would need her protection too. I'm warning all religious people, if a line is not drawn in the sand here, with the FLDS, defending their beliefs, we'll be next. Physical damage can be said to be the province of government. Once they become thought police, legislating what we can believe as damaging to us or not damaging to us, we are in the worst sort of trouble.

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Justice may be blind, but can it be wooed?

Hat tip to "VESTA Status of Womens News" for noticing this one. I wouldn't say it's a blog populated by fellow travelers, but it's about the funniest thing the opposition has come up with. There is also a reprinted and well reasoned piece immediately below this cartoon, Joey Thompson writes;

"(I)n an interview Friday, (Wally Oppal) was unrepentant -- quick to rebut those, including his own staff in the Criminal Justice Branch, who figure he should directly ask the province's top appeal judges for their legal take on whether all of us can wed willy-nilly, given every citizen's right to freely pursue their religious beliefs.

Oppal told me the case against the constitutionality of polygamy stands a much better chance if B.C. can prove the extramarital lifestyle sexually exploits and harms women and kids. But first they need evidence that it does exploit -- thus, the police investigation and subsequent criminal prosecution of the self-appointed bishops."

Joey writes for "the Province" and her article was originally printed there. To balance that, there is this from Grant Maxwell.

The Daily News (Nanaimo) - "Previously, there were two significant societal changes that I believed were instituted solely because of idealism.

The first was the implementation of the metric system by Trudeau. There simply wasn't a need or desire for that change.

The second was the fast ferries. Again there wasn't much desire or demand for faster ferries but an elected official knew better than the rest of us.

I suggest the same is true of the polygamy charges laid by Wally Oppal. He had to shop this idea to three people before he found someone who agreed. Since there are no sexual exploitation charges, there is no interest. I would suggest that if the province were to ban plastic bags the talk shows and editorial pages would be burning up compared to this yawn fest. Oppal may be fighting the good fight but for whom?

He has stuck his neck out a long way here and many believe he will lose. The risk/reward ratio on this is far too high."

I tend to agree with Grant, that the fight is not being fought for anybody, unless you count busibodies that stare in bedroom windows and become even more excited (YFZ) when they cannot. If Oppal tries to really win the case, it will probably be along the lines of abuse, which they will now have to find, and they will need witnesses, who claim to be victims.

The cartoon may have to be rewritten, with Wally Oppal down on his knees, Romancing the Stone carving of Blind Justice.

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Brent Hunsaker, ABC 4, Nails it.

It's a test case.

KTVX - "After years of investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Crown's prosecuting attorneys in British Columbia charged the leaders of two polygamist groups (one is F.L.D.S., the other a splinter group) with one count each of polygamy.

Just one count each. A test case.

Backed by a strong anti-polygamy law, section 293 of the Canadian Criminal Code, B.C. District Attorney Wally Oppal argues he doesn't have to look for crime within polygamy, polygamy itself is the crime. His case may well hinge on proving that polygamy by definition is abuse. Whether the man is kind or mean, principled or ruthless, polygamy is inherently abusive of women and children.

That is very different from the approach of Shurtleff and Goddard. The question is, which is the better?

If Oppal succeeds, it could open the door to hundreds of prosecutions in Canada. Even the mere threat of such prosecutions could lead to a mass exodus of polygamists from Bountiful -- that's what they call their community in the Creston Valley of British Columbia.

And where do you think all those Canadian polygamists would end up? Yep. Here. In polygamist enclaves in South Dakota, Nevada, Texas, Arizona and Utah.

We should pay close attention to what happens in a Canadian courtroom. It may well have irrevocable consequences for those of us in the States."

And yes, he also notes correctly it will have effects here. Either by sending Canadian polygamists our way, or by emboldening our Law Enforcement, or by pressuring us to legalize it because of our close ties. Canada in a way should be applauded. Now we'll know.

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Bountiful locals weigh in, Price is no object according to the politicians

It's a better article than would have been written by the Eldorado Success

.

The Cranbrook Daily Townsman - (Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett) - "I can't say enough about Wally Oppal's doggedness on this file. He's really been responsive any time I've talked to him about Bountiful. He wanted evidence, obviously, to lay a charge, but couldn't lay a charge until they had it. I think he deserves a lot of credit here."

Dogged? What has Oler or Blackmore been charged with that they couldn't have been charged with a few days after they set foot in Bountiful? The charges are proof they couldn't find anything on the FLDS contingent in Canada, so they charged them with the only thing they could charge them with.

"(Audrey) Vance said she doesn't care who gets the credit as long as Blackmore was charged with polygamy instead of sexual assault or some other charge that would leave the polygamy law unchallenged.

'We've been skirting around this issue for a long time. Polygamy is against the law of Canada. So for me, I'm glad he was charged with that. As Canadians, I think it's time we made up our minds on the polygamy issue.' "

Audrey first seems to take a rational position, that the case should be tested, but then downshifts into utter nonsense.

"A member of Altering Destiny Through Education, a Creston-based group, which has fought for years for the right of Bountiful children to attend the public school system, Vance said her main concern is the children of Bountiful.

'For those of us that have learned so much the last six years, it isn't about consenting adults. It's about taking any young female that the 'prophet' feels should be married to an old man. So to me it's about children's rights in this country. That's the way I've always felt about it.' "

"Fought for the 'right' of Bountiful children to attend the public school system?" I'm glad she tells us it's how she feels about it. Who cares how she feels about it? Has it dawned on her than no one has been charged with abuse after all that investigation? Audrey would seem to be an idealist that thinks that the day will be won when the naturally abusive condition of polygyny is finally shown to be illegal. Good luck with that Audrey, I think monogamy as marriage, the only form of marriage, is going down in Canada.

"Bennett, meanwhile, said the Province is going to great lengths in the Bountiful prosecution to separate it from any possible taint of politics by putting independent prosecutor Terrence Robertson in charge of the case."

And they punt, to an "independent prosecutor" whose job it will be to expand the charges to anything and everything. At least Canada is leading with the correct charge as polygamy is in fact illegal. In this case if child abuse is found, as defined by law, they'll have reason to conduct the search and find the evidence. I would disagree with how they define child abuse, but Canada does have the right to make it's laws.

"Bennett agreed the case could be long and expensive, but said that's not the issue. The polygamy law must be tested, he said. 'This, I believe, is in the public interest. I agree with the special prosecutor and the attorney general on that.' "

Saddle up Cranbrook, politicians don't care how much of your money they spend, refer to Texas to see how much can be spent.

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UPDATED: Oh Please, this is TOO OBVIOUS, Bountiful Raid another "Assist" to a Book.

It was "weird" and "tinfoil hat wearing" to suggest that the YFZ raid was in large part, a money grubbing attempt

by anti FLDS forces to line their pockets. I mean, look at all the neatly timed book deals, including Flora Jessop's book timed to come out (ahem) now, just as the Bountiful Raid kicks off, and this, noted by the Vancouver Sun.

"Daphne Bramham's book, The Secret Lives of Saints: Child Brides and Lost Boys in Canada's Polygamous Mormon Sect, was published by Random House and is shortlisted for the B.C. National Non-Fiction Book Award. It was released in paperback by Vintage Canada this week."

Ok FLDS. Get some contacts in the publishing world. Try to be "elsewhere" when a book is about to hit the paperback shelves or a new publishing effort is kicking off. I suggest you take cruises. Be in the middle of the South Pacific. Try a visit to Madagascar. Put the Gaza Strip on your sight-seeing agenda. Go some place safe, the next time an enemy decides to publish a book.

Why is this not a psychotic delusion of the pajama wearing crazy FLDS supporting Blog Universe? Because in researching the Bountiful arrests, I discovered that it is so obvious, I wasn't the first to see it. I can claim it was an original thought, but not that I was the first to notice.

UPDATE:

The Straight (Vancouver) - "My suspicions were aroused after the B.C. Achievement Foundation selected Vancouver Sun reporter Daphne Bramham's book, The Secret Lives of Saints: Child Brides and Lost Boys in Canada's Polygamous Mormon Sect (Random House), as one of four finalists for a $40,000 prize for the best nonfiction book of the year in Canada."

He goes on to observe that the Author, is a reporter, for the Vancouver Sun.

"A report a few years ago proved there was no politics in the charge-approval process, the bureaucrat could insist. The RCMP conduct investigations, which is separate from the work that the Crown does. Anyone who doesn't know this doesn't understand how the justice system works. Blah blah blah.

And this could be the kicker: any journalist who suggests otherwise is just another a conspiracy theorist.

But there's one thing the Crown can't deny: the timing of these charges couldn't have been better for the B.C. Liberals' reelection chances or for the premier awarding a nonfiction book prize to a Vancouver Sun reporter"

Bwahahahahahahaha....

Media Wars, I can see it now, warring tribes of journalists, straight out of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. I would not link to any Daphne Bramham stories at this point, for factual information, there's a huge conflict of interest.

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Since the FLDS don't issue FATWAS, it's open season here, and in Canada. It's not a coordinated attack, it's not about (a particular) religion.

This could become very interesting, as the war against the FLDS goes international. Muslims engage in polygyny here, and in Canada, but if you are FLDS and are polygynous, you're a target. (A quick Bountiful Timeline primer from The Vancouver Sun.)

The Globe and Mail - "In a sensational turn in a 20-year-old debate over the issue of polygamy in Canada, police have charged Jim Oler and Winston Blackmore.

The two men were charged each with one count on Tuesday and have not yet appeared in court. Mr. Oler is charged with 'practising polygamy' on Nov. 4, 2004 with two women. Mr. Blackmore is charged with 'practising polygamy' on May 1, 2005, with 22 women."

One is always tempted to make the joke, "how do you practice polygamy?"

"Polygamy is an indictable offence in the Criminal Code."

That may be, but Canada has already legalized (in a sense) Polygamy for the purposes of using divorce laws, to break them up. The Ottawa Sun, May 31st, 2006;

"Multiple-wife marriages have been legally recognized in Canada to award spousal support and inheritance payments.

The former Liberal government long maintained that polygamy is criminal in Canada but documents obtained by Sun Media under Access to Information show that polygamous marriages have been recognized 'for limited purposes' to enforce the financial obligations of husbands.

Religious organizations say same-sex marriage opened the door to decriminalizing polygamy, and worry that formal recognitions of plural marriages will weaken the government's ability to defend the anti-polygamy law if it faces a constitutional challenge on religious grounds. A polygamist from Bountiful, British Columbia has warned he will fight for his constitutional right to have plural wives on religious grounds."

Probably the same "polygamist" arrested today. Canada is not the USA of course, and their judicial system is vastly different. This is blatant hypocrisy. It is of course, not about religion. Well, maybe, but only particular religions, the ones that don't issue fatwas.

Also reporting on the story Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, The Salt Lake Tribune, The Deseret News, ABC News and Google News/The Canadian press.

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