Religious Crimes
Religious Crimes
The Imperial constitution charges the Synod with the responsibility for the spiritual welfare of the Empire. The Imperial bureaucracy has interpreted this, in part, as a remit for the Synod to investigate religious and spiritual crimes.
Central to this responsibility is that the Imperial faith does not undermine, or in any way supplant, Imperial law. Consequently, whilst the priests of the Synod may investigate religious crimes, they must present their case to the judiciary, who will then rule on the guilt of the identified person or persons, and determine their punishment.
The Synod powers relevant to this process are inquisition and condemnation.
Further information on the relation to Imperial Law can be found here.
The current list of religious crimes includes Idolatry, Blasphemy, Heresy and Abuse of Powers.
Idolatry
The crime of idolatry is defined as: Subsuming human will and destiny to any inhuman entity or force. This includes the worship, veneration or exaltation of any such being or power.
This crime incorporates the worship of "gods", Eternals and other supernatural beings, though some priests have considered applying it in a political context as well.
Blasphemy
The crime of blasphemy is defined as: The denigration of the Paragons and the Paths of Virtue. This includes promoting False Virtues and the teachings, or example, of False Exemplars or False Paragons.
The Feast of the Broken Wheel practiced by the Freeborn is contentious and some priests in other nations have accused it of being blasphemous, though, to date, no attempted condemnation of any participant has been successful.
Heresy
The crime of heresy is defined as: The wilful rejection, or perversion of, the Orthodox Doctrines of the Faith as laid down by the Imperial Synod, or actively teaching and promoting False Doctrines.
The Synod does permit the discussion, and debate, of the doctrines, and potential variations thereof, as part of theological investigation and learning. The criminal act is the teaching of “truth” that has not been recognised as such by the Synod. Virtuous priests will first seek to change Doctrine in the Synod, rather than undermine it.
Abuse of Powers
The crime of abuse of powers is defined as: The misuse, or abuse, of the powers of a priest. This includes the powers of the Synod, as well as liao ceremonies.
The Synod is charged with ensuring the proper conduct of all priestly Imperial citizens, whether they are Synod members or not. Abuse of Synod powers may include looking to use confession and clemency to pervert the law, rather than promote virtue. Abuse of priest ceremonies may include use of the excommunication ceremony on an Imperial citizen without them having first been excommunicated by the Synod.
Anger radiated from Garath, filling the tent in which he was sat. The Sentinel by the doorway tensed in response. Conversely, Casia, her black-eyes unblinking, appeared entirely unpeturbed and gently stroked her barbels as she considered the broker.
“This is a travesty, and a waste of time,” spat Garath, “Do you really have nothing better to do with your time, fendweller?”
Casia merely considered him in silence.
“You had no right to haul me in like some criminal!” Gareth railed, “I was in the middle of an important trade deal. You’ve cost me a lot of money and I’ll have every ring of it out of your sodden hide.”
The merrow Illuminate simply lifted her cup and drank from it. Taking her time to finish it if full, she turned again to Garath. Rising from her seat she circled his seat before she finally spoke.
“I’m curious,” she said, without irony, “I have spoken at length to some of your business partners. You are a successful trader, there is no doubt. Yet the part that I do not understand is what you do with the liao you purchase from the Bloodhammer legion. No one I have spoken to reports you ever selling any of it.”
Garath snarled, “Is that it? My cousin Gwyn is a Guide. I provide it to him as part of the work of the Faith. Go and ask him.”
Casia nodded, and paused to produce a notebook in which the name was carefully inscribed. As she was putting her pen away, the tent flapped jostled and another Sentinel entered carrying a bag.
Garath blanched, “That’s mine! You’ve no right…”
“I think you will find that priests of the Synod have the right to go a great many places,” Casia interrupted calmly, as she took the bag from the armed man. Reaching in she produced a handful of small documents.
“Oh my,” she said, her tone unchanged despite the expression of surprise, “I do believe I have seen some of these in the tavern. Leaflets extolling the glory of Elora, Goddess of Hope.”
The black eyes fixed themselves on Garath again, “I do believe that’s heresy, blasphemy and idolatry in one single stroke. Thank you for your time Broker Garath, your inquisition is concluded. I would suggest you do not make any plans to leave Anvil as I am quite sure the magistrates will be wanting a word.”
As Garath rose, Casia gestured and the two Sentinels moved to either side of him. Garath glared at his shadows, but said nothing as he left the tent with the two following him.