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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, January 11, 1980
Page 6
churches in California and the United States, someday we will be considered
not as criminals but as heroes. And as with Paul who was jailed and
chained yet took heart and seeing the big picture said, "But I would ye
should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have
fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel" (Phil.l:12J.
"That is what this case is all about," concluded Mr. Helge, " ...and one
day when this case is over we are really going to have a party, and I am
looking forward to it!"
Highlights of Mr. Rader's Comments
Mr. Rader stressed, as did Mr. Helge, that we are truly in a war with many
fronts. The multi-faceted legal battle we are engaged in with the state
is a vicious fight because, as Mr. Rader pointed out, "we are dealing with
men who have proved again and again now for one year--and I mean this as
much as I could possibly mean anything else--they will lie and they will
invent where they think it is necessary. And they will malign or slander
and defame even when it is not necessary...That is the kind of people we
are dealing with."
The Attorney General has shown by his refusing to depose certain people
such as Mr. Jack Kessler, that he doesn't want answers that will disprove
his case. Neither does he want to be deposed by Mr. Kessler because, as
Mr. Rader explained, it would be very plain that the Attorney General "not
only never intended to prove up the case, but that he has maliciously
abused the power of his office and would then be wide open for legal action
to redress the wrongs [he committed against the Church]."
Mr. Rader stressed, again as did Mr. Helge, that we are in a time of test
ing which requires patience. As much as we might like an early resolution
of this church/state conflict, the legal processes are slow and we must
build a good foundation. He also emphasized that if we were to let down
or simply forget for a moment that we, as a church, have special rights
and immunities, any compromises we might make would preclude us from ever
being able to be treated as having them again. A legal precedent would
therefore be set not in our favor.
Mr. Rader acknowledged the invaluable help all the brethren have been dur
ing the past year, and reminded us of how Mr. Armstrong had said over and
over again that there was no way he could thank everyone enough. Not only
did many brethren put in many long hours for weeks and months at a time
helping in every possible way, but their participation in the sit-ins,
appearances at court and letter writing helped to bring the Church into
public focus. We realized early on that the courts, the media, the public
and other religious institutions (which eventually did rally to our aid)
first had to be informed about the Church's plight.
Mr. Rader noted, "They were very confused in the Attorney General's office
and very confused in the courts. They actually had some idea when they
came in here that we were all members of a corporation...like joining a
club...and that all you people owed dues." They simply did not appreciate
us as the spiritual body of Christ.
"I have a feeling in watching this lawsuit unfold," Mr. Rader observed,
"that by now everybody that has learned something about the case from