IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

Tel.: 505-753-4136
Email: obfcouncilsecty@hotmail.com
May 5, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Judgment in favor of the Orthodox Baha’i Faith

In a decision handed down by the United States District Court, the Orthodox Baha’i Faith was found not guilty of contempt charges levied against it by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States (Wilmette NSA). The injunction that the Orthodox Baha’i Faith was accused of violating, would have prohibited it from using the name Baha’i, meaning a follower of Baha’u’llah (as the name Christian refers to one who follows Christ.)

The NSA, a national branch of the world organization with over 6 million members, brought the legal action against the Orthodox Baha’i Faith, whose membership, in contrast, numbers less than 50 in the United States, many of whom are life-long believers.

As a result of the judge's finding, the Orthodox Baha'i Faith may continue to use the name Baha'i in identifying itself and may continue to teach its belief in the continuing Guardianship of the Faith of Baha'u'llah, a teaching in direct opposition to that taught by the NSA group. The Orthodox Baha’i Faith recognizes Joel B. Marangella as the rightful Living Guardian of the Baha’i Faith.

The original injunction was issued over forty years ago to a now extinct rival body to the NSA. In her judgment, the Honorable Amy J. St Eve wrote: “[T]he chain of successorship lacks a link” ruling on April 23, 2008 after holding an evidentiary hearing last January 7, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois on the contempt motion brought by the NSA.

Also cited in the case was the Baha’i Publishers Under the Provision of the Covenant, a completely separate organization from either of the other parties. They too were found not guilty.

The complete opinion of the Court can be found on the internet:
http://trueseeker.typepad.com/true_seeker/court_case.html

Contact:
David Maxwell, PNBC Chairman
8924 Crest Ridge Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76179
817-279-3700