Posted by:
IRanon
(
)
Date: January 21, 2011 04:23PM
Mormon lawyer William F. Atkin lists some legal and political trends that might have an adverse impact on church now and in the future.
Taxation
- elinmination of tax exemptions/non-profit status
- financial transparency
Funding
- strength of the dollar
Data privacy
- more regulation
- more disclosure of confidential information
Immigration restrictions
- missionary visas
- business travel visas
Anti-discrimination legislation
- employment/temple worthiness
Secularism
- less accommodation to religions/e.g., zoning variances
- terrorism/security issues
In Germany Jehovahs Witnesses are issued on refusal of benefits corporate rights due to human rights issues.
JW:s also refuse to give diciplinary court documentation to subject it concerns.
European Union implements such like 12 article of universal declaration of human rights in Data privacy legislation.
Transfering personal data from EU to US might also violate data protection laws.
Transfer of personal data to third countries
Third countries is the term used in EU legislation to designate countries outside the European Union. Personal data may only be transferred to third countries if that country provides an adequate level of protection. Some exceptions to this rule are provided, for instance when the controller himself can guarantee that the recipient will comply with the data protection rules.
http://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.glaubensgemeinschaft-nein-zu-zeugen-jehovas.b1fce91b-7ae0-4daa-bfd3-068898f1c011.htmlTranslation
Stuttgart - With its magazines "Watchtower" and "Awake," Jehovah's Witnesses proselytize in residential areas and pedestrian zones. But the policy of the country so far they could not convince.
Until further, the Jehovah's Witnesses in Baden-Wuerttemberg are not equated with the Christian churches. The CDU-FDP government in Stuttgart, as our newspaper was told on Wednesday, now definitely decided to refuse the required state approval to the controversial religious community. "The Cabinet has decided to reject the request of the Jehovah's Witnesses to grant them the corporate rights," said a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Culture, on request of our newspaper. "We are in the process to work out the decision of refusing in close coordination with the Ministry of Justice, and that subsequently will be served on the Jehovah's Witnesses."
The relevant Cabinet decision, dated 20 December, is so far not been made public.
It is expected that the faith community that claims to have 28 000 members in Baden-Württemberg, will take action against the decision. The last word should then have the Administrative Court (VGH) in Mannheim. The state government justified its rejection by doubts about the loyalty of the faith community. Jehovah's Witnesses are known to be skeptical or even hostile to the state; therefore they should not take part in elections. Furthermore, even family members should break the contact with apostates, by which the country, according to a report by the Justice Department, sees adversely affected „the fundamental right of respect for family life and marriage" and the basic right of religious freedom. Moreover, the religious community, by their refusal of blood transfusions, risks "life and limb of minor children and young people."
Is the faith community a corporation under public law?
A recognition as a corporation under public law would have the advantage for the Jehovah's Witnesses that they would pay less taxes and administrative fees. In addition, they would then be partially out of state control, they even could impose a church tax and would, as the Protestant and Catholic Church, have the right to sit on the boards of public service broadcasting.
The expected lawsuit in Baden-Württemberg should get its attention in whole Germany. In 12 of the 16 states, the Jehovah's Witnesses at their request have now been legally upgraded, because despite concerns they saw no other way. The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Education wanted to join the fact, but met widespread opposition in Parliament. Also, Rhineland-Palatinate, Bremen and North Rhine-Westphalia yet refuse recognition.
Those countries that capitulated referred above all to a supposedly ground-breaking decision of the Berlin Higher Administrative Court that awarded the Jehovah's Witnesses in 2006 after almost 15 years of litigation the status of a corporation under public law. According to the state government in Stuttgart, Berlin judges have only inadequately lit the inner life of the community.They waived to interview dropouts. The Justice Ministry in Stuttgart however has done this, when compiling its report.
If the Administrative Court (VGH) in Mannheim reaches a different verdict than the colleagues in Berlin, the Jehovah's Witnesses probably would be deprived of their status in most states again. Up to a verdict, however, its is expected to again take years.