This page is being started 102617. Selected questions with answers.
- Question: I am homosexual and my new pastor says that I have to turn straight to stay in my church. Can force me to it to be able to stay? I have gone to the same church for 11 years. I have never had a problem in my church even if I am openly gay and dress quite feminine. We have a new pastor since a year and he has tried to talk me into becoming straight since day one. Clearly, he is quite homophobic…. I have been able to laugh about if until now, but he is now trying to put pressure on my by the other pastors. They have never had a problem with me before. Suddenly they want me to dress differently and “become straight”. I am feeling harassed by my pastor and he even talked about me in church yesterday. It was clearly about me and I could feel the hostility. What can I do? Can I even try to do something legal against my pastor or is he protected by the law since he is God’s voice?”
Click here to go to my answer and link to the question with other answers on AVVO website.
- Question (011218) My mother took a picture of me when I asked her specifically not to. Can I sue her for violation of privacy? My biological mother and I have had serious issues and I absolutely detest her. She violated my privacy while I was getting ready for a date and took photos of me without my permission. Even after I specifically told her not to. I want to sue her.
Click here to go to my answer and link to the question with other answers on AVVO website.
- Question (120717): Can I do anything about this? I’m an adult being forced to participate in religious activities. I am 18 years old and my family forces me to go to church multiple times a month despite my protests of my paganism. They tell me I need to go because I need to listen to Jesus and not what I’m doing right now. Is this legal? Are they not respecting my first ammendment rights? What can I do about this?
My answer was as follows: Some definitions of adult are: 1. fully developed and mature; 2. one that has arrived at full development or maturity especially in size, strength, or intellectual capacity. You do not fit either of those definitions. Adults do not disrespect parents who give them a home, clothe them, feed them, and try to do the right thing by them. If you do not like the rules, leave. It is sad that your parents have not stayed on top of your education. They have not, as the old saying goes, applied the board of education to the seat of understanding. As a result, judging from your rebellious question, they have a spoiled 18 year old brat on their hands. What they are doing, is, in my opinion legal. The First Amendment to the United States was not meant to protect the religions rights of children from their parents. The First Amendment was paid for by millions of men, women, and children who stood up against religious tyrants. Read all about it at: https://opbcbibletrust.wordpress.com/god-betrayed…. Your parents have a responsibility to you under God to do all they can to properly prepare you for life. If you do not agree with their efforts in this matter, then leave home. After all, you maintain that you are an adult.
Click here to read answers from other lawyers.
- Question (102617): I believe I have a case under the religious freedom restoration act? it states the purpose is: to provide a claim or defense to persons whose religious exercise is substantially burdened by government. God is in my life and requiring me only to do drugs because I like to as part of my Christian religion and I am being substantially burdened by the government because they are illegal. I need to know what damages I can seek etc and if it is possible to sue under this act.
My Answer: Legal arguments have been mentioned by other lawyers. However, I am both a lawyer and a Christian. Anyone can call himself a Christian. However, the standard to test the truth of that is the Bible; this cannot seriously be questioned by anyone. Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity, teaches nowhere in his Word that one is to alter his state of mind except by the regeneration which occurs with the New Birth. The Bible teaches that you are not to alter your mind, or open your mind to the influence of evil powers by placing it in an altered state of consciousness. Drugs to that very thing, as does alcohol. Seems to me that you would have a serious difficulty in first establishing the important factual question: “Are you a Christian?”
The online question with answers from other lawyers can be viewed by clicking here.
- Question asked October 27, 2017: Is the father of a 17 year old girl allowed to forbid her from wearing a normal piece of clothing? A girl wore a pair of denim shorts that her father claimed to be too short and is forcing her to get rid of them. However, she has worn them numerous times in the past and he never had a problem with them. Is the father infringing his daughter’s First Amendment right of freedom of expression?
One Lawyer’s answer:
James Wooldridge Criminal Defense Attorney – Amarillo, TX. I agree with Mr. Ninomiya. Parents have draconian control until you are 18. But, you might go ahead and grow up and start acting like an adult instead of a child since you will soon legally be an adult.
- Question asked October 27, 2017: Why are we lightening up on criminals that use a gun but continually pass new gun laws that only affect honest gun owners in Ca? I am an honest gun owner with a carry permit. I am tired of all the new laws aimed at taking guns from honest Californian gun owners. Why make a law that gives liberal judges the decision on sentencing?
Question. October 28, 2017 – Vancouver, WA; Practice area: Constitutional
I have a defamation question. I want to comment on something a person said in a nationally televised speech. I should give a concrete example to illustrate my concern. Candidate Barack Obama responded to a question in a debate in April 2008. The question was: “Is the D.C. law prohibiting ownership of handguns consistent with an individual’s right to bear arms?” Mr. Obama replied: “As a general principle, I believe that the Constitution confers an individual right to bear arms.” My comment on this exchange would be: “How is it that a person, who taught Constitutional Law, and who, as a US Senator, has sworn an oath, does not understand that the Constitution does not confer anything, rights or otherwise, to individual citizens? At best, this indicates a profound lack of understanding of the Constitution, and the BoR in particular, enough so that this candidate ought to be disqualified from any government office. How can anybody defend that which they either do not understand or do not agree with?” I am writing a book that would include comments of this type, although this particular comment is just an example. How vulnerable would this written observation make me to a defamation suit?
Question, December 9, 2017: How can a police officer write a report, which is a big fabricated bunch of lies, (I read them), six months later send it to the State Attorney, an arrest warrant is issued, the officer had left the Department months before, is nowhere to be found, is not listed anywhere with FDLE, and nobody can find him? I have lost all faith in our judicial system. I did a long time ago.
My answer: Police officers can and do lie. They lie on offense reports when they feel they need to do so to, for example, get around constitutional problems which may defeat their allegations on the offense report. They lie on the stand when necessary to try to get a conviction. At least in Texas, they are taught to constructively bend the truth, as they put it. They are also taught that the Constitution and Bill of Rights, which was designed to protect citizens from unlawful actions by state agents, is a piece of paper written by rich white slave owners. Generally, an honest policeman who will not lie is relegated to some desk job or the like. That said, many times citizens are their own worst enemy. They intentionally or unintentionally anger an officer. That is not wise. Policemen sometimes profile people like young white males, black people, and so forth. Since I am 71 years old and the typical “good citizen” with a conservative appearance who has enough sense to respect the officer, since he has a needed government job-ultimately to preserve the peace of all citizens-I have never had a problem, even when I was young, with the police. We live in a fallen world. Most people are lost. As such, they are earthly or fleshly only, not controlled by the Spirit of God. Therefore, they act in a manner consistent with their nature.
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The court system allows a person falsely accused to fight the charges. If the officer is no longer available, and if he is the only witness for the state, they cannot prove the case and will have to dismiss. If the officer can be brought to court, you have a right to a trial where you can attempt to impeach his credibility and offer your own evidence. At least Americans have that recourse. I suggest getting a lawyer. If you cannot afford one, most jurisdictions will appoint one for you upon your showing of indigence. I know that is not a pleasant route, but that is your only recourse if you want to fight false allegations pursued by the state.
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Good luck.
See online question, answers of other attorneys, and my answer by clicking here.
Question, January 3, 2018: If voting is a right, why is this right taken away by a political party without showing just cause before a judge? I am concerned that the Republican Party is removing registered voters from the list of people authorized to vote, making the 2018 elections a farce while establishing a tyranny.
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Simply Church: God's Prescribed Relationship Between Church and State 