tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18902745.post9026135110829987728..comments2024-03-24T15:19:06.377-04:00Comments on The Continuum: Trinity XVIIIFr. Robert Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05892141425033196616noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18902745.post-37415059271318112282007-10-08T08:30:00.000-04:002007-10-08T08:30:00.000-04:00Perhaps so, Sandra, but Father is not commenting ...Perhaps so, <B>Sandra</B>, but Father is not commenting on how things work in practice, but upon the principles set forth. In our American system, it is quite possible, even in theory, for someone to be convicted entirely on circumstantial evidence, without witnesses at all. I know of a couple of cases, one, in my judgement, probably innocent, and the other, probably guilty, both of whom were convicted legally and 'fairly' without any actual witnesses. In Hebrew law, it remained possible (as it would, being that it is sinful humans administering the law) for a multiplicity of false witnesses to bring about a conviction -- but the principle of requiring a sufficiency of witnesses was better established in theory than it is in our system. Father's point stands and speaks volumes about what is true Law as contrasted with the way sinners can distort it.<BR/><BR/><B>Father Hart</B>. Thank you for yet another piece of outstanding preaching.<BR/><BR/>edpoetreaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11613032927883843078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18902745.post-19086016438916466352007-10-07T06:43:00.000-04:002007-10-07T06:43:00.000-04:00Father, I think you underestimate English law and ...Father, I think you underestimate English law and its descendents. In the first place, 'false witnesses' turn up in the Bible, in the plural. In the second, in the English system, the accused person is only convicted after an extensive judicial process founded on the presumption of innocence. Sure, miscarriages happen, but I'd bet that nobody is convicted on the evidence of only one witness. Even if only one person saw him do it (or, for that matter, had it done to him or her, with nobody seeing it), that person won't be the only witness. There will be witnesses from before the event, witnesses from after the event, expert witnesses with fingerprints and DNA, all subjected to cross-examination--nothing's perfect, but there are safeguards. There is such a thing as corroboration, and conviction rarely if ever happens without it. I'd rather have the system that I and you have than one in which two people with a grudge, or paid the right sum by another person with a grudge, get up and accuse me, upon which I am guilty and stoned to death.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com