Basic HTML Version
,
..
WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
April 16, 1979
NEWS SUMMARY
WORLDWIDE EDITION
EX-MINISTER BUCKLES UNDER CROSS-EXAMINATION
A major blow to the Attorney General's office and dissident ex-members
was struck recently. Benjamin Chapman, disfellowshipped ex-minister of
the Worldwide Church of God and a major link in the conspiracy and plan
ned take over of the Church, buckled under cross-examination by church
attorneys.
In a deposition being taken late Monday, April 9, Mr. Chapman under close
questioning by one of the Church's attorneys, Marshall Morgan, panicked
and said he now needed a lawyer to represent him. Mr. Chapman had ear
lier stated that he didn't have a lawyer present, and had no need to have
a lawyer present. Mr. Chapman was reminded that he was already in con
tempt of the subpoena and subsequent judge's order to appear, but he was
allowed to leave upon agreement to come back April 23.
Mr. Rader stated that during the deposition "it became very apparent Mr.
Chapman was a very much involved person in the conspiracy to deprive the
Church, its leadership and its members of their constitutional rights."
Also during the deposition, recounted Mr. Rader, Deputy Attorney General
Lauren Brainard took exception to Mr. Rader having to remind him that
(a) he did not represent Mr. Chapman, (b) that he had admitted he did not
represent Mr. Chapman, (c) he, therefore, should not be advising Mr.
Chapman, (d) our lawyers were getting tired of reminding him of what the
law was, and playing "continuing education of the bar," whereupon, he
threatened Mr. Rader with physical, bodily harm by his manner and by his
statement, which was an epithet. Mr. Rader said that "we are considering
bringing an action of assault as well as an action to recuse him" /chal-
lenge him as prejudiced, or otherwise incompetent to ac�/.
-
Mr. Rader commented that "our lawyers have been trying from the beginning
to get the State to tell us who they represent, and who they don't re
present. A month or so ago we learned that the State orchestrated a
concerted effort to keep all of the witnesses that we had subpoenaed for
depositions from appearin� And now we felt that Mr. Brainard, although
he admitted he did not represent Chapman, was acting as though he did.
We don't care if he does," continued Mr. Rader, "we feel it would be a
break if he did. We even invited Brainard to represent Chapman, but the
point was, he didn't represent Mr. Chapman; therefore, he should not have
been constantly advising him."
TAXPAYERS' LAWSUIT LOSES ROUND IN L.A. SUPERIOR COURT
On Tuesday, April 10, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Vernon Foster dealt
a set back to the "taxpayers' lawsuit" filed by eleven taxpayers (all
members of God's Church in California) several weeks ago. The suit con
tested the constitutionality of the Attorney General using tax monies to
investigate and harrass the Worldwide Church of God under section 9505 of
the California Corporations Code. The Attorney General relied on section
9505 as his sole authority for his lawsuit (State vs. Worldwide Church