Church Empowerment Act 631 KC

Church Empowerment Act 631 KC

Kingdom of Stormwind

Lady-Justicar Nasias Darkstar, Justicar Vincent Haringoth, Father Apolloset Magri

An addendum of Articles 11b and 12 to the Church Empowerment Act 623 KC, to criminalise acts of zealotry and to establish the criminalisation of neglect pertinent to Article 11.

[14th of March, 631 KC]

Be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Council of the King’s Royal Court, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Sources

1. Church Empowerment Act 623 KC, as originally enacted
2. Pertinent to the petition from the Cathedral of Light and Church of the Holy Light, for an addendum to the Church Empowerment Act
3. Pertinent to the proposed addendum, post focus committee
4. Church Empowerment Bill (Addendum 631 KC) as per 1st, 2nd and 3rd readings before ascent in to legislation

Section 1: General Clauses

Article 1: Definitions

For the purpose of this act at the mentioning of the Church it shall refer to the Church of the Holy Light. In regards to Church Officials it shall regard those in official employ to the Church and with valid proof of a position within the Church. With church property it shall refer to any real estate in direct ownership or control of the Church as well as other properties as outlined in this act to be regarded as such.

Article 2: Aim

The CEA aims to enshrine as well as empower the position of the Church of the Holy Light in the Realm as under the guidance of the Stormwind government.

Section 2: Church Officials

Article 3: Rights

Official members of the Church recognized as such by the Church or recognized representational bodies of the Church shall acquire the following rights; an official member of the Church:

1. Is exempted from taxation on income, unless said income would exceed the normative standards in the realm.
2. When being of the rank of Bishop or equivalent standing within the church has the right to be recognized as a noble for all intent and purpose in regards to position in the Council of the Realm.

Article 4: Protection

Official members of the Church can expect the protection of any loyal subject to the Crown and Realm against any physical or psychological attack on their wellbeing. Moreover a duty of care is to be expected in regards to Law Enforcers, Guards or Military in this regard.

Article 5: Overriding Privilege

The special privileges attributed to the official members of the Church can be removed by court edict in case of High Treason or Treason to the Crown or corruption of the loyalty to the faith.

Section 3: Church Property

Article 6: Access and Protection

1. The Church is permitted to regulate access and control over their property as any other. The Church may not impair the law enforcement officials of the Kingdom in the performance of their duties; however no Church property may be expropriated from Church holdings without a valid legal order sanctioning such.
2. The Church has the right to arrange security and protection of their holdings in the way they deem fit and appropriate and are permitted to maintain a guard for such a purpose.

Article 7: Stormwind Cathedral

1. The Church may not seal the Cathedral from access to the faithful. The Cathedral serves as a bastion of faith and should remain so.
2. The Church has permission to regulate the various offices and rooms of the Cathedral ex art. 6 of this act.
3. Access to the Cathedral can be limited following a joint decision of both the Church and Governmental officials in case of a national calamity or national security risk.

Article 8: Stormwind Cathedral Protection

In regards to the protection of the Cathedral, the Church has the same permission as illustrated under article 6 sub b. In addition to this right the assigned guard force has to be made known to governmental officials as well as law enforcers within the city compounds to be given the rights as stipulated above.

Article 9: Catacombs and Tombs

Catacombs and Tombs are deemed to be sacred ground. Access is only permitted to Church Personnel defined as clergy or caretakers of such. Access to outsiders can be granted at the discretion of the Church. Access may be limited, but not prohibiting the possibility for families and friends to pay their respects to their dead.

Section 4: Addendum

Article 10: Scarlet Clause

None of the above rights apply to Church members with affiliation to the sect known as ‘Scarlet'. For the purpose of this act no difference is made between the various Scarlet sub-organisations.

Article 11: Criminals

None of the above rights apply to Church members who are known convicts or church members convicted in line with Article 5 of this act.

Article 11a: Criminal Safeguards

1. A person who enrolls a person to membership of the Church must;
   1. Demand the enrolee's criminal history before he is enrolled, and;
   2. Take reasonable steps to submit in writing to a law enforcement organisation, a request for the list of offences in which the enrollee has been convicted, signed by both the enrollee and the enroller.
      1. But a request that has received no response beyond seven (7) days after it has been received by the intended law enforcement organisation, may be considered fulfilled and treated as nil.
2. A person is guilty of the offence of Unlawful Appointment if he;
   1. Grants or maintains to a person, the powers as defined under;
      1. Article 6b;
      2. Article 8.
   2. But the application of Section 2a only applies where his criminal history is composed of;
      1. More than three petty offences, or;
      2. One non-petty offence where the committed date falls within a period of five (5) years.
   3. It is a defence for a person charged with Unlawful Appointment to prove;
      1. That reasonable steps were taken to validate the appointee's criminal history as under Section 1, and;
      2. He was unaware of all new convictions issued beyond the date of appointment.
   4. A person guilty of Unlawful Appointment shall be liable on summary conviction to;
      1. A fine not exceeding one-hundred (100) silver, and;
      2. Disqualification from the granting of powers as defined under Section 2a for a period not exceeding six (6) months.
   5. Where two or more members of the same Chapter are guilty of Unlawful Appointment within a period not exceeding six (6) months, the Chapter shall be liable to;
      1. A fine not exceeding five-thousand (5000) silver, and;
      2. Permanent disqualification from the powers as defined under Section 2a.

Article 12: Criminal Zealotry

1. A person is guilty of Criminal Zealotry if, with targeted and unlawful purpose, he directly endangers or professes to endanger the health, safety or wellbeing of Alliance member races or groups.
2. A person guilty of Criminal Zealotry shall be liable on conviction on indictment to;
   1. A fine not exceeding one-hundred (100) silver, or;
   2. Corporal punishment not exceeding twenty (20) lashes, or;
   3. Capital punishment.
3. But for the purpose of Section 2c, capital punishment is only permitted as a sentence in exceptional circumstances, where a Criminal Zealot either directly engages in activities, or directs others concerned in the commission of activities that;
   1. Endanger a person's life, other than his own, or;
   2. Involve serious violence against a person, or;
   3. Create a serious risk to the health, safety or wellbeing of the public.