|
Mennonite farmer fights 'mandatory' registration |
|
|
Tuesday, 26 June 2007 |
|
Ok, well, the farmer's claim of suffering eternal damnation should he comply with the State's registration demand may seem a little extreme to some. But -- to each his own religious beliefs.
That aside, however, our thanks for his example in standing up to (and apparently defeating) regulators who couch their bureaucratic actions in terms of "mandatory action" -- even when they're not mandatory. -sm
A Mennonite farmer who
claimed he would suffer "eternal damnation" if he complied with
Pennsylvania's numbering system to sell ducks won't be expected to
follow the rule after all. State Agriculture Department officials said
Friday, June 22, it had erroneously advised poultry farmers that they
would need a number to participate in the state's avian-influenza
monitoring program this year. Spokesperson Christopher Ryder said
officials realized the error only after the farmer sued the department
on Thursday, June 21. The lawsuit said he and other members of the
Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church believe the Bible's book of
Revelation warns that numbering systems that require participation as a
requirement for doing business are the work of the Antichrist. The
farmer contends that the state rule unconstitutionally violates his
religious beliefs and that the state has no authority to require
participation in the voluntary federal program. Ryder said department
officials expect to reach an accommodation with the farmer and will
contact other farmers to ensure that they know that participation in
the federal program is not mandatory. Ryder said he did not know how
many farmers received the incorrect notices.
Source: http://agriculture.omnisourceintelligence.com
|
FeedBurner Subscribe
