News in brief: Bishop sues blogger for defamation

Notes: "Bishop Michael Bird of the diocese of Niagara has filed a defamation lawsuit with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice against David Jenkins for comments published in his blog 'Anglican Samizdat'. The suit alleges that multiple comments published were injurious to the bishop's 'credit, character and reputation'. Bird's lawyer, Graydon Sheppard, says the bishop, and to some extent his wife, has been 'under constant attack for more than two years by this blogger .. [who] has gone beyond fair comment and debate about doctrinal matters'. Jenkins' lawyer, Douglas Simpson, declined comment; however, the statement of defence denies 'in all cases .. that the words, pictures or sounds of said broadcasts or postings were libelous or defamatory'. It also asserts that his comments were 'intended to be humourous and make use of satire, sarcasm, irony, hyperbole, wit, 'send up' and other types of humour to make a point other than what one would take literally from the comments'. The bishop is seeking $400,000 in damages as well as legal costs and the removal of all the defamatory material posted". [Text of entire article.]

Subjects: Bird, Michael A. (Michael Allan), 1957-; Jenkins, David; Libel and slander - Canada; Libel and slander - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada; Blogs - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada; Anglican Samizdat