SOCIETY FOR PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY STANDARDS INC.
Media Release Right to Life Inc. 24 June 2010
Right to Life, has resolved to seek leave of the Supreme Court to allow an appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal stated in its judgment of 1 June 2011 on the appeal of the Abortion Supervisory Committee and the cross appeal of Right to Life that the unborn child did not have a right to life. [Read more…]
The High Court has reinstated a Christian mortgage lending scheme as a charity after it was struck off the Register of Charities by the Charities Commission last April. Liberty Trust, suspected by the Charities Commission of being an illegal pyramid scheme, said its interest-free loans, largely funded by donations, were based on Bible principles. The trust was launched in Whakatane in 1989 and became a registered charity in 2007. “It is a scheme about giving in order to lead a Christian life free from the burdens of debt.” Justice Jill Mallon said.
Source: Dominion Post June 8, 2011, P. A3
[Liberty Trust: Charity registration number CC11287. Registered trust with the Companies Office (Reg. No. 428355)].
CHARITABLE STATUS OF LIBERY TRUST APPROVED BY HIGH COURT
2 June 2011: The Honourable Justice Mallon produced her judgement at 4.45pm today. Here is the conclusion:
Result
[124] I consider that the Charities Commission erred in finding that Liberty Trust does not have, as its main purpose, a charitable purpose. Liberty Trust was set up to advance religion. It seeks to do that through teaching financial principles that Liberty Trust proclaims are the Bible’s financial principles. It seeks to teach those principles through providing a scheme which allows its followers (and anyone else who wishes to join up) to pool financial resources for the benefit of themselves and others. It reinforces the religious beliefs on which the scheme is based through its literature promoting the scheme and its other publications and teaching activities. It is not merely inspired by or conducive to religion. Its purpose, through this scheme, is to spread what is viewed as being the Bible’s message. In my view the purpose of Liberty Trust falls within the term “advancement of religion” as it has been interpreted in the cases.
[125] I also consider that the Charities Commission erred in finding that Liberty Trust’s activities do not exist for the public benefit. As a trust which has as its purpose the advancement of religion, the starting assumption is that it has a public benefit. The activities are not contended to be subversive to morality or a sham. It is not for the Court to impose its own views as to the religious beliefs that are advanced through the scheme. The benefits of the scheme are not focussed too narrowly on its adherents. It is open to anyone and the money donated is “recycled” for the benefit of others. Overall it is a scheme about “giving” in order to lead a Christian life free of the burdens of debt.
[126] I therefore allow Liberty Trust’s appeal. The Commission’s decision is set aside. Liberty Trust is to be reinstated to the Charities Register.
http://www.libertytrust.org.nz/News/news_CC.htm
Read the full High Court judgment here:
In a letter dated 18 April 2011 (see below) the Companies Office responded to the inquiry dated 27 March 2011 regarding banned company director and convicted burglar Bernard Whimp.
In its Media Release today, the highly respected registered charity Family First NZ has welcomed the decision by the New Zealand Teacher’s Council to deregister a female primary school teacher for her “serious misconduct” – involving her work as a porn magazine model (See 35 page decision The Complaints Assessment Committee v Rachel Kellie Whitwell. NZTDT 2011/7).
The Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal ruled that the defendent, aged 29, must meet the CAC’s actual and reasonable cost associated with the disciplinary proceeding and pay half the Tribunal’s costs.
“Teachers have a special status as leaders and should be respected – especially by our children,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.
“Modeling and selling naked photos to a pornographic magazine doesn’t meet that standard. Associating the photos with her profession of teaching children is also unacceptable.
“These sexually explicit photos of the teacher have been published and are now in the public domain. The combined role of porn star and primary school teacher simply doesn’t fit for many families. Parents would be just as concerned if a teacher was coming to school topless or teaching that pornographic magazines are harmless. [Read more…]