Specifically, the court overturned the Registrar of Trademarks decision to award the group's logo design "official mark" status. Because official marks offer more exclusive rights than trademarks, the Canadian Jewish Congress argued that the messianic organization could deny any menorah symbols to synagogues or other Jewish organizations.
The court agreed. "The menorah [has been] the official emblem of the Jewish faith and its people since antiquity," wrote Justice Pierre Blais. "It would be counterproductive to prohibit Jewish organizations and associations from using and adopting a mark such as the menorah, since it [has] always been historically associated with the Jewish culture."
But this battle goes far beyond the spurious accusation that Chosen People Ministries would have forced synagogues and other Jews to stop using menorahs. What the Canadian Jewish Congress really wants is to force Chosen People Ministries to stop using the symbol. "These groups create the misleading perception of Jewish affiliation through their appropriation of Jewish religious symbols (such as the menorah), holidays, traditions, and terminology, all to facilitate their proselytizing campaign," CJC president Keith Landy said after the court's decision.
So far, Weblog hasn't seen any comments from Chosen People Ministries, but organization president Mitch Glaser earlier said, "Interestingly, it's our responsibility to defend the Canadian government's decision, but what I really believe is that our faith is on trial."
Chosen People Ministries continues to seek trademark status for its symbol, and the Canadian Jewish Congress continues to oppose that move as well.
No-church zoning district faces a challenge | A federal law enacted in 2000 to protect churches against most zoning restrictions is being tested in a suburb west of Philadelphia. (The New York Times)
Your taxes for church schools? | The vote in Zelman v. Simmons-Harris will, in all likelihood, be 5-4, with Sandra Day O'Connor deciding whether to tear down much of what remains of that wall separating church and state. (Nat Hentoff, The Village Voice)
Graduation 2002: One last lesson in freedom | First Amendment provides all the guidance we need for these ceremonies: Public schools must respect students' rights to freedom of speech, religion. (Ken Paulson, Freedom Forum)
A natural split with Bush, and many quit | Longtime, key officials who favor conservation—including evangelical James Furnis—say they are frustrated by new rules. (Los Angeles Times)
Florida high court hears debate over religious cemetery markers | ACLU says crosses and Stars of David erected in a city cemetery are protected under state law, but city wants to limit grave decorations to flat markers. (The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville)
Faith-based welfare reform | If the government didn't face a tax cut-induced hole in its finances over the next decade, Congress could give the president his faith-based initiative and provide the money to finish the job of welfare reform. (E. J. Dionne Jr., The Washington Post)
Canadians deplore 'artistic merit' porn defense | Although John Robin Sharpe was found not guilty, most people oppose the use of such a defense in court, a new poll reveals. (Vancouver Sun)
Panel recommends dismissing priests in new abuse cases | A Roman Catholic panel proposed removing priests who abuse minors in the future, but would allow leeway in old cases involving a single incident. (The New York Times)
Prelates' proposal draws praise and skepticism | Sveral scorned the plan's failure to include sanctions for bishops who have transferred priests from parish to parish, and their criticisms suggested that the plan would not calm protests by victims' groups, which have been growing (The New York Times)
Dismissal of abusive priests is proposed | A committee of Roman Catholic bishops recommended Tuesday the defrocking of any priest who sexually abuses children in the future but left open the possibility that some past offenders could remain in the priesthood. (The Washington Post)
Bishops lenient for past sex abuse | Bishops recommend defrocking priests who sexually abuse any child in the future, but mercy toward priests who already have committed a single offense (The Washington Times)
Bishops call for abuse crackdown | National group will consider a proposal to oust new offenders but allow one molestation in the past. (Los Angeles Times)
Bishops still face highly placed hurdles | The question now is whether it will intentionally subvert the will of parishioners and bishops — or follow their prescription for healing. (Editorial, USA Today)
Article continues below
The real issue is fidelity | How can we expect the Catholic people to be faithful to their sacred vows if they know that some, perhaps many, priests and bishops are not faithful to theirs? (Richard John Neuhaus, USA Today)
Victims then, priests later | No one knows how many spiritual mentors of one generation abused the priests of the next, but the numbers are probably "larger than we think," according to A.W. Richard Sipe, a former Benedictine monk and psychologist. (Chicago Tribune)
O ye of much faith! A triple dose of trouble | This is a rare moment in history, like a planetary alignment: three world religions simultaneously racked by crisis. (The New York Times)
Clerics redefining their space among kids | A generalized suspicion of priests -- one lamentable cost of the Roman Catholic Church's scandal -- has made many members of the clergy keenly attuned to ''professional boundaries,'' particularly with children. It also has raised concerns that too much formality can have a chilling effect on pastoral work (The Miami Herald)
Archbishop offers Milwaukee faithful a public apology | Rembert G. Weakland said he accepted "full responsibility for the inappropriate nature" of his relationship with a man who accused the archbishop of sexually assaulting him and was paid $450,000 in an out-of-court settlement (The New York Times)
Australian bishop admits abuse money offer | Just days after angrily denying that he tried to cover up sexual abuse of children by priests, Australia's most senior Roman Catholic churchman has been forced to admit offering victims thousands of dollars. (BBC)
Also: Pell allegations lack evidence | The claim by critics and victims that compensation was a euphemism for hush money appears difficult to sustain, given that priests who perpetrated abuse on 101 "Pell process" compensation recipients had been convicted and, in 25 other cases, the abusive priest was either dead or the sexual misconduct was not criminal (Editorial, Sydney Morning Herald)
The church will protect children | We urge our critics to take note of what we can and will do in this adversity and not only of what we have failed to do in the past (Harry J. Flynn, The Wall Street Journal)
While we pray for peace, we need moral clarity about this war.
We’ve got little information on Jesus’ appearance and personality. But that’s the way God designed it.españolFrançais
Christians can disciple each other toward action, prayer, and hope.
