Second thoughts.Dear editor, Barry F.H. Graham's letter ("Another definition," November Journal) conveys a total misrepresentation misrepresentation In law, any false or misleading expression of fact, usually with the intent to deceive or defraud. It most commonly occurs in insurance and real-estate contracts. False advertising may also constitute misrepresentation. of the concept of sanctuary in the medieval Anglican church. It must be remembered that until relatively recently, most crimes for which we would assess a punishment of imprisonment Imprisonment See also Isolation. Alcatraz Island former federal maximum security penitentiary, near San Francisco; “escapeproof.” [Am. Hist.: Flexner, 218] Altmark, the German prison ship in World War II. [Br. Hist. were punished be death by hanging or, in the case of some, death by dismemberment dismemberment /dis·mem·ber·ment/ (dis-mem´ber-ment) amputation of a limb or a portion of it. dismemberment amputation of a limb or a portion of it. . The concept of sanctuary was that by confessing one's crime to the coroner (crowner) and leaving the realm, one could save one's life. In modern practice, deportation to a country which practises torture and capital punishment capital punishment, imposition of a penalty of death by the state. History Capital punishment was widely applied in ancient times; it can be found (c.1750 B.C.) in the Code of Hammurabi. would achieve the same thing as remaining in the realm of England in the medieval period would, namely, the death of the individual. Sanctuary forces the Canadian government to at least have second thoughts about its actions, and because of this, should continue to be exercised by the church. Arthur E. Gans Winfield, B.C. |
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