In what could be regarded as an astonishing faux pas, a Barrister defending the Mormon Church in a court case in the NSW Supreme Court brought by a woman who alleges that her step father who was a Mormon sexually abused her.
The Barrister, Philip Taylor, SC, is quoted in press reports as cross-examining the woman -who is now 36- on the claim by her father that, as a 14-year-old child, she had consented to sex with him.
This was a strange point to cross-examine her on, as Taylor would have been expected to know that under the laws of NSW, a child of 14 would not have been able to give consent to sexual intercourse with any adult, not just her own stepfather.
The woman is asking the court to increase the time she is legally allowed to enter a claim as she points out that the Mormon Church deliberately withheld information about her sexual abuse -which it excommunicated her stepfather for- from the authorises including the police.
Many people in American are offended that the Mormon Church put its considerable weight organisational muscle and money behind proposals to outlaw so-called gay marriage in California. Some $22M according to reports.
The influential America Blog covers the building sense of outrage, inlcuding calls for people to boycott Utah, including the Sundance Film Festival.
"Utah's growing tourism industry and the star-studded Sundance Film Festival are being targeted for a boycott by bloggers, gay rights activists and others seeking to punish the Mormon church for its aggressive promotion of California's ban on gay marriage.
"It could be a heavy price to pay. Tourism brings in $6 billion a year to Utah, with world-class skiing, the spectacular red rock country and the film festival founded by Robert Redford among the state's popular tourist draws..."
(EDITOR: Unless, of course, the organisers of the Sundance Film Festival decide to join in the boycott and decamp to another location? Such a permanent loss would be a blow to Utah.)
A spokesman for the Mormon Church said: "As we move forward from the election, Church members need to be understanding and accepting of each other and work together for a better society.)
(EDITOR: This spokesman seems unaware that some Mormons have been disciplined by local and regional leaders for daring to fail to comply with church orders to campaign against gay marriage.)
The Mormon Church will live through interesting times. And all of its own making...
UPDATE: Here is video footage of a protest in Salt Lake City, Utah:
