Continuing to go [img]graemlins/offtopic.gif[/img] but I just thought this might be of interest:
Mormons have not practiced polygamy since the Supreme Court disbanded the church for doing so, and took its assets (those that weren't hidden). Years later, the church was reinstated, and property was returned - on the notion that the church had reformed its view of polygamy. There were 4 in total Supreme Court cases on it. It's been a while since I've read them, but
http://candst.tripod.com/caselist.htm says they were:
1878 P U.S. Reynolds v U S, 98 U.S. 145 First of the Mormon cases and was decided under civil law, First mention of Jefferson's metaphor (Wall of Separation)
1885 B U.S. Murphey v Ramsey, 144 U.S. 15 Another of the Mormon cases (cited 3 times in The Myth of Separation)
1890 P / B U.S. Davis v Beason, 133 U.S. 333 Basically part of the overall Mormon cases Bigamy polygamy cases followed the Reynolds reasoning i.e., civil law. (cited 5 times in The Myth of Separation)
1890 P U.S. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints v US, 136 U.S. 1 Last of the Mormon cases
This was an issue when I was working at legislative counsel in VT, which was drafting VT's civil union. A big question legislators has was "if we open the door to other types of marriages, how do we say NO when people come looking to legalize other things, like polygamy."
Sorry to be offtopic, just an FYI.
[ 11-20-2002, 10:21 AM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]