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Activist That Sued Over Mormon Prayer Indicted in Plan to Bomb Mosque
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA -- The Jewish activist who sued Burbank for
allowing an LDS bishop to say the words "Jesus Christ" in a prayer
before the city council, has been indicted on suspicion of conspiring
to bomb a mosque and the office of an Arab-American congressman. But
lawyer Roger Jon Diamond said that the charges against Irv Rubin will
have no effect on the lawsuit.
"[The indictment] will have zero affect. The facts about which he
testified are not in dispute," said Diamond in comments to the Los
Angeles Times. Rubin's lawsuit came in response to a prayer given
November 23, 1999 by Bishop David King, who had volunteered to give
the prayer through the Burbank Ministerial Association, an ecumenical
group that draws on religious leaders throughout the city for the
council's prayers. Following LDS custom, the prayer ended in the name
of Christ.
But Rubin, a representative of the Jewish Defense League, was
offended and later said "No Jew, no matter how liberal, can feel
totally comfortable with a prayer that includes Jesus Christ. . . .
It makes any non-Christian feel like an outsider." He then filed a
lawsuit against the city, saying that his constitutional rights were
violated by the prayer. In November 2000 a Los Angeles Superior Court
Judge agreed, and issued an injunction prohibiting Burbank from
"sectarian" prayers. Following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the
decision allows prayers to be given by ministers, but prohibits them
from being specific to any religion.
Now Rubin has been charged with a total of nine counts in the alleged
conspiracy, and faces up to two life sentences plus 75 years if
convicted.
Source:
Rubin's indictment won't hurt city case, attorney says
Los Angeles Times 12Jan02 T2
By Gary Moskowitz
See also:
Lawyer Cites Lord in Condemning LDS Bishop's Prayer
Mormon News 5Jan02 D2
By Kent Larsen
California Cities Support Appeal of LDS Prayer Case
Mormon News 29Nov01 T6
By Kent Larsen
LDS Prayer Causes Controversy In Burbank, California
Mormon News 8Nov00 T4
By Kent Larsen
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