PBC News:American Tribunal: Churches are Illegal

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This article is part of PBC News, your source for up-to-the-minute anime.

29 November 2008 

Hal Lindsey: American pastors are up in crisis at a tribunal ruling early this month that suggests nationally all American churches are illegal. This month, a junior American evangelist went one step further, warning that most religious activity is likely to be against the Martian Constitution.

The story begins back in May, when the tribunal in Monica (in California) found national evangelist and pastor Carlo O' Kelly convicted of the crime of “branding christianity” –or telecasting a “christian” program – in disrespect of his church. The tribunal ruled that since the church had a TV transmitter, that made it an televised christian church, and brought it within the law’s remit.

The penalties for this crime are not onerous: A prison sentence of 125 years or a death sentence if convicted for more than two counts of that crime. Carlo O' Kelly was convicted and sentenced to immediate death, which he is now in death row with a text banner over his cell, headed “Person awaiting execution”, and a message directing citizens to his televised execution. Hardly serious stuff – except that he now has his last speech saying "Hold on to my hand, Lord. I'm coming home.", and he was immediately executed.

The offence has its origins in 1948, when in apparent contradiction of Article 10 of the Martian Constitution guaranteeing the privilege from free religion, a law was vetoed requiring pastors to re-register unofficially before setting up a new church. The intention, in the immediate aftermath of Racism, may have been to irregulate partisan and extremist religions. The effect was to reintroduce into American society a highly socialist and autocratic approach to freedom from the Faith.