Michael Cottone has published an article in the Tennessee Law Review describing how literally no one now can keep the centuries-old principle ignorantia legis neminem excusati.e. ignorance of the law excuses no one.
He noted that it was a great thing in its day when laws were few and based on a commonly understood morality.
Today, however, with the advent of “regulatory crime”, which are laws written to enforce administrative schemes and called “public welfare offenses”, literally nobody can know what all the laws are.
He cited as an example a guy who got lost on a snowmobile during a blizzard and ended up on federal land where snowmobiling was illegal. Rather than be cut slack he was prosecuted. That sort of thing does not happen in a just society.
Traditionally one needed intent to become a criminal.
“Tellingly, no exact count of the number of federal statutes that impose criminal sanctions has ever been given, but estimates from the last fifteen years range from 3,600 to approximately 4,500,” Cottone said.
Cottone notes that Congress, according to one study, enacts 60 new criminal statues a year and this does not include new regulations that carry a criminal penalty.
“Our criminal justice system fails to be “understandable” so as to comport with the internal morality of law—especially because of the highly technical nature of regulations,” he wrote.
Reforms are needed desperately.
Abuse of the legal process is by definition unjust and those entrusted to uphold it yet abuse it will face an inevitable backlash.
The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape is proud to announce that the coalition’s Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center (SARCC) earned the 2015 Governor’s Victim Service Pathfinders Award, reports Adam Kulikowski.
The prestigious award is presented to a program who have made notable contributions to the program for which they work the community they serve or the field of victim services.
“SARCC is honored to be recognized through the Pathfinder Award for the work we are doing in the community to end sexual violence,” SARCC CEO Jenny Murphy-Shifflet.
SARCC serves Lebanon and Schuylkill counties, recognizing the impact of sexual assault on all individuals, families, and communities, counsels and support clients and advocating for the rights of victims and educates for the elimination of sexual assault in Lebanon and Schuylkill counties.
SARCC has been instrumental in bringing two evidence-based programs to the area—a satellite office of the Pinnacle Health Children’s Resource Center and the launch of the Live the Green Dot Campaign.
SARCC has also worked to build services to the Spanish-speaking population in its service-area.
In 2013 and 2014, SARCC was recognized as the Nonprofit of the Year in both Schuylkill and Lebanon counties.
April is here. The days are now longer than the nights and the frost is gone. It is now time to cut the grass.
And of course summer is approaching which means trips to the shore will soon be in order.
So, how can one get in shape for the beach, while saving the environment and having a nice lawn, all at the same time?
One word: scythe!
That’s right ladies, the ancient European farm implement is faster than a Weed Whacker, does not release planet-killing carbon emissions and gets you six-pack abs in no time.
Don’t just ask but DEMAND that your husband buy you one right now!!!
Eastern Catholics are self-governing churches in full communion with the Pope. Roman Catholics can fully participate in Eastern Catholic services just as Eastern Catholics often attend Roman Catholic services. This of course means the mutual reception of the Holy Eucharist.
Archbishop Stefan Soroka greeted at Holy Myrrh-Bearers First Mass
National Park Service Northeast Regional Director Michael Caldwell has named Lorena “Lori” Harris as regional chief ranger. The Northeast Region (NER) includes over 85 sites across 13 states in the northeast United States.
“Lori’s broad vision for ranger services hallmarked by a commitment to resource protection and public safety makes her a perfect fit to lead the Northeast Region’s Office of Ranger Services and Safety,” said Caldwell. “She will be a tremendous asset to the parks and programs of the Northeast Region. She truly understands the role of the 21st century National Park Service ranger.”
Ms. Harris, currently acting regional chief ranger, has served as NER branch chief of law enforcement and emergency services in the region since December 2013. Harris succeeds Stephen M. Clark, who recently became superintendent of the NPS Western Pennsylvania Parks; including Flight 93 National Memorial.
The washing of the altar is occurring behind the iconostasis.
Delaware County Pa.’s newest church was consecrated, today, April 18. Holy Myrrh-Bearers Eastern Catholic Church, 900 Fairview Road, Ridley, albeit with a Swarthmore address, is the combination of the congregations of Saints Peter and Paul Church in Clifton Heights and Holy Ghost Church in Chester, both of which held their final masses last weekend, and Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Philadelphia which closed in 2004.
The altar being prepared the day before the ceremony.
The inside is a thing of beauty with red and sand-colored walls graced with large bright icons. The iconostasis — a wall of icons and religious paintings that separates the nave from the sanctuary — comes from Holy Ghost.
The alter was custom made and hand-carved by Igor Deervyanyy of Artsacrum, Louisville, Ky. It is a work of art. It was donated in memory of the Dearden, Urbach and Chambers family by Francis R. Dearden.
The ceremony was led by Archbishop Stefan Soroka, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia for Ukranians. Co-celebrants were Bishop John Bura, who is the archdiocese auxiliary bishiop; Bishop emeritus Basil H. Losten, John N. Ciurpita, the church pastor; and Joseph Szupa, chancellor.
Master of ceremonies were Very Rev. Edward Higgins and Rev. Walter Pasciznky.
Sanctifying the altar started with washing it with water. It was then scrubbed with soap — Ivory, in this case, due to its lack of additives. Wine was then poured upon it in in the shape of a cross. A pouring of rose-water, also in the shape of a cross, followed this. The rose-water was mixed spikenard, the perfume that was used to anoint the feet of Jesus.
Relics relating to Saint Stephen, the First Martyr, Saint Dorothea of Caesarea and Saint Josaphat Kuntsevych of Polotsk were placed in a cavity in the center and sealed with wax. Icons representing each of the four Evangelists were placed in spots prepared at the altar’s corners and also sealed with wax.
The altar was then vested with the vesting cloths sprinkled with holy water. The antimension, holy Gospel Book, and hand cross then placed with each getting a sprinkling of holy water. After this the table of oblation– where the bread and wine are prepared for the Eucharist — was placed.
The church was then incensed and sprinkled with holy water in a procession of clergy. The western door and the southern and northern windows were then anointed with oil.
And so the church was sanctified.
The Holy Myrrh-Bearers for whom the church is named were the women who went to anoint the body of Jesus after his crucifixion and found the tomb empty, along with Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, who prepared the Lord’s body for burial. The women who found the empty tomb are Mary the Mother of God, Mary Magdalene and Martha, who were the sisters of Lazarus; Mary, the mother of James and Joses; Mary, the wife of Cleopas; Joanna, the wife of Chuza; Salome, the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee; and Susanna.
The first Mass is 11 a.m., tomorrow, April 19.
Eastern Catholics are self-governing churches in full communion with the Pope. Roman Catholics can fully participate in Eastern Catholic services just as Eastern Catholics often attend Roman Catholic services. This of course means the mutual reception of the Holy Eucharist.
Holy Myrrh-Bearers is the site of the former Leiper Presbyterian Church which was founded in 1819 and closed in 2012. Presidents Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison and James Buchanan worshiped at Leiper Presbyterian at the invitation of Leiper family members.
Kudos to Charlie Frindt, Raman Ishwar, Abigail Pearse and Schafer Hudson Ortyn and the rest of the Penncrest Hi-Q team for winning the 2015 National Hi-Q Competition on April 16.
Hi-Q is an academic quiz competition for high school students that was founded in Delaware County in 1948 by the Scott Paper Co.
i.e. ignorance of the law excuses no one.
