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questioned sureties. On May 8 attorneys for both sides are to be back
in court to hear Judge Eagleson's decision on the exceptions and the
Church's responses. Should the judge rule in favor of the Attorney
General's exceptions, the Church will have more time in which to further
respond , including the substitution of new sureties if necessary.
Mr. Rader told members of the press outside the courtroom that he felt
the suretyships "show their /the brethren's7 love and devotion to the
Church of the Living God. Because of the court's denial of rights of the
church members, the Attorney General, in my opinion, has in essense
inadvertantly given /by questioning the sureties/ the church members the
opportunity to demonstrate just what it means for them to be members of
the Worldwide Church of God -- members of that spiritual body."
Members were anxious to verify in court that they are acting in good faith
and that the integrity of the sureties are above reproach. It is espe
cially repugnant to California brethren that the Attorney General is try
ing to throw out most, if not all, of the sureties as "questionable" -- as
if to imply, perhaps, that church leaders falsified sureties by taking
names off tombstones, or obtaining them by some other spurious means. Or,
rather, that brethren themselves, as members of the Church the Attorney
General has falsely accused, are not to be trusted!
700
MILLION DOLLAR SUIT REFILED
Some have wondered about the status of the
700
million dollar suit the
Church filed against the state of California. It was denied by Judge
Firth in Federal District Court a few weeks ago, so the Church has refiled
it in amended form. This revised suit has been expanded to include others
whom the Church has proof are involved
Judge Firth has taken the amended
suit under advisement.