Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Supreme Court Passes on Mormon Church Case
Associated Press ^ | June 23, 2003 | Robert Gehrke

Posted on 06/23/2003 9:26:09 AM PDT by AntiGuv

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court declined Monday to hear arguments on whether The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should be allowed to limit speech it deems offensive in a park it purchased from Salt Lake City.

The court's decision lets stand an October ruling by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that said free-speech rights along the plaza sidewalks must be retained because the church had guaranteed the city pedestrian access through the park.

The plaza dispute began in April 1999, when the Mormon church paid the city $8.1 million for one block of Main Street adjacent to the church's temple.

The church agreed to the city's demands of public access to the block, but demanded that they be allowed to restrict smoking, sunbathing, bicycling, obscene or vulgar speech, dress or conduct on the plaza.

The Utah branch of the American Civil Liberties Union sued, arguing the restrictions were unconstitutional.

A federal judge sided with the church, but the appeals court overturned that decision in October, ruling the city couldn't create a "First Amendment-free zone."

The Supreme Court announced its decision Monday without comment.

The dispute widened a chasm between the city's dominant Mormon population, and non-Mormons who complain of being forced to live by the church's precepts.

After first saying he'd abide by the appeals court ruling, Salt Lake City mayor Rocky Anderson - who's running for re-election this fall - proposed giving up city control of the easement through the park. In exchange, the church would give the city two acres of land in Glendale, a neighborhood west of downtown, for a community center.

Earlier this month, the all-Mormon city council voted 6-0 with one abstention to approve the deal.

"The court denied our application for them to take the case. Obviously, that's disappointing. But it's also not too surprising," church attorney Von Keetch said Monday. "The court takes so few cases, getting on the docket is difficult."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Utah
KEYWORDS: lds; scotus
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-26 last
To: Colofornian
Interesting story.

I guess the Mormon Church is again safe from evangelical missionaries, since the city sold the easement to the church, and now the former Main Street is private property with no easement.

At least, that's the way I understand this ruling and the mayor's decision to sell sell the city easement. The court only addressed the easement issue, not the sale per se.

21 posted on 06/23/2003 3:20:39 PM PDT by george wythe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: ChemistCat; george wythe
property rights need to apply

the Utah Gospel Mission...estimates it converts about 30-35 Mormons a year.

Since George's post points out this organization saves 30-35 lives per year, property rights do not prevail over what amounts to the sanctity of spiritual life rights.

"And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent {to Temple Square}? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Romans 10:14-15)

22 posted on 06/23/2003 3:22:15 PM PDT by Colofornian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: george wythe
Van Gorden and a partner had refused to leave when asked by a security guard, leading to trespassing charges that were dropped pending the appellate court's ruling.

Over & over again I read in the book of Acts (see particularly in the mid to later "teen" chapters) about how the apostle Paul, upon arriving in a new city as a missionary, would head for the local synagogue first--to try to reach the religious folks first...he and later Apollos would "dialogue, argue, articulate...etc." with those there.

It appears that had the LDS church been around then, they would have had Paul arrested on grounds of trespassing.

23 posted on 06/23/2003 3:31:30 PM PDT by Colofornian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: jethropalerobber
It's not public anymore. The city SOLD it. It is privately owned. Again, if you believe this, please post your address.
24 posted on 06/23/2003 4:31:01 PM PDT by ChemistCat (Transformers look just as good by morning light as they did the night before.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Colofornian
**Since George's post points out this organization saves 30-35 lives per year, property rights do not prevail over what amounts to the sanctity of spiritual life rights.
"And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent {to Temple Square}? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Romans 10:14-15)**


I am new so if the format isn’t correct, I apologize.
Regarding the message quoted above, if the implication is that the Bible welcomes those who preach Mormon doctrine, then that is highly offensive to most Christians. If I am reading what is implied above correctly that is. If I am, and the belief of the writer is that Mormons bring “good news” then again, as a Christian, I find that offensive, however, I also recognize your absolute right to say it. The Mormon church isn’t Christian. Mormonism teaches that there are many gods, including God the Father, Jehovah is Jesus another god and the holy spirit yet another god. In addition, the Mormon church teaches that if one is a perfect Mormon (essentially), they themselves can achieve godhood someday ruling over their own planet as god and goddess thus the polygamy doctrine of early Mormonism. Mormons had to produce human babies so the "spirit babies" produced by a perpetually pregnant goddess can have a body to live in when it comes to earth. Hardly Christian or Biblical doctrine.
If the writer finds what I am saying here offensive, and if the writer is Mormon, I would like to remind the writer that in the 1830’s, Joseph Smith founded the Mormon church, some 2000 years after Orthodox Christianity was doing just fine thank you. Joseph Smith proclaimed that there was a need to establish the Mormon Church because as Smith said all the churches were “…all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that…they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith, 2:18-19. Thus, the Mormon Church teaches that all other churches are in a state of apostasy. As a Christian member of one of these Mormon-labeled corrupt organizations, I would say that the offense began with the establishment in the 1830’s of the Mormon Church and Smith's proclamations.


25 posted on 06/24/2003 12:05:52 PM PDT by Armywife79
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: AntiGuv
constitutional bump
26 posted on 06/25/2003 3:32:29 PM PDT by inquest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-26 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson