- The Washington Times - Tuesday, January 4, 2011  A court
hearing challenging Canada’s anti-polygamy law on religious
freedom grounds resumes Wednesday in British Columbia and will
eventually include testimony from men and women who are living
in multiple-partner marriages.  The hearing will not immediately
change the status quo, as British Columbia Supreme Court Chief
Justice Robert Bauman’s ruling will not bind any courts.  But
his ruling will address questions about whether polygamy is a
criminal activity under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms,
and, if it is illegal, under what circumstances. Observers
predict that if Justice Bauman’s ruling is appealed, the issue
could end up before the Supreme Court of Canada, which could
make a binding ruling about polygamy.  The legal hearing
revolves around the British Columbia community of Bountiful.
Formed in 1946, its 400 or so members belong to a breakaway
Mormon sect that permits men to have multiple wives.  The
challengers of Canada’s anti-polygamy law s