Finally.

And the religious groups are now down to 26.

And a legal look at The Canada Family Action complaint. I got a kick out of one of the commenters who pointed out Christopher Bird’s use of Isaiah 8:20.

“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

Isaiah is admonishing his listeners/readers to stick to scripture, not fortune tellers. It doesn’t negate Christopher Bird’s legal or moral argument one bit, and kudos to commenter James Brink for acknowledging that fact, after presuming Christopher might be in an opposite ‘category’ and reprimanding (as opposed to presenting a legal argument that is based on misrepresentation).
Which gets things back to topic, after the wee detour.

Despite your otherwise worthwhile criticisms of the CFAC newsletter, I always find it a little amusing when non-Christians (I presume you fall in this category) try to “reprimand” Christians using the Bible. It would be more amusing if it weren’t for the fact that theological ignorance is one of the chief reasons for the complete communication breakdown between the devoutly religious and the devoutly not so.

In any case, the passage you refer to in the notoriously esoteric book of Isaiah is not about “misrepresentation” of other people or the law. It is rather a call for Israel to stop seeking guidance from the dead, and start following “the law and testimony” (shorthand for the five books of Moses and the prophetic books). As the NIV translation of the Bible puts it, in context: “When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.”

You would have been better off going with the familiar ten commandments: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”

Context, as you otherwise argue quite well in your post, is key.

I don’t see a communication breakdown.
Lying is taken very seriously in the bible.
I’ve used The New Topical Textbook by R. A. Torrey

It is forbidden. Leviticus 19:9. Colossians 3:9
It is hateful to God Proverbs 6: 16-19
It is an abomination to God Proverbs 12:22
Lying hinders prayer Isaiah 59:2-3
God is not the author of lies, Satan is the father of lies John 8:44
The father of lies provokes men to lie1 King 22:22. Acts 5:3

What are Christians supposed to do about lies and lying?

Hate Psalm 119:163. Proverbs 13:5
Avoid Isaiah 63: 8. Zephaniah 3:13
Do not respect liars Psalm 40:4
Reject lying and liars Psalm 101:7
Pray to be preserved from lying Psalms 119:29. Proverbs 30:8.

Proverbs 12:29 tells us liars will be exposed.
There are lies of omission and commission.

Let’s see what we have going on here.
Astroturfing: Astroturfing in American English is a neologism for formal public relations campaigns in politics and advertising which seek to create the impression of being spontaneous “grassroots” behavior, hence the reference to the artificial grass, AstroTurf.

Canwest said Forty-two groups, businesses and one individual signed the August 12th letter of complaint

The Globe and Mail says Dr. McVety’s group launched the complaint. True. His group launched it, the Doctor part remains questionable.

A press release from Canada Christian College August 13th says: TORONTO/CALGARY, Aug 13, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Forty-two Canadian organizations and their estimated one million plus members collectively filed a letter of complaint with the Canadian Judicial Council on Wednesday, August 13th, 2008 about federally appointed chief justice Beverley McLachlin for conduct that breaches the high standard of behaviour required to be a member of the judiciary.

The President of The Canada Family Action coalitions says: “We never accused her of voting. We accused her of disregarding the constitution that she is bound to serve. By expressing her approval of the process, she is expressing approval of Morgentaler’s activism on abortion.” Neither Brian Rushfeldt or Charles McVety refer to themselves as ‘Dr’.

42 religious groups. No.
1 million plus members. Hmmm.

Did I miss anything?