Judge Rules: Monks Evicted from Buddhist Temple

July 20, 2004

Source: The Chicago Daily Herald

http://www.dailyherald.com/search/main_story.asp?intid=3818812

On July 20, 2004 The Chicago Daily Herald reported, "When two monks moved from Laos to a Buddhist temple in rural Hampshire, the men assumed they could stay indefinitely. According to Buddhist tradition, temples that invite monks must shelter them forever, unless the holy men are summoned someplace else. But a Kane County judge on Monday sided with the temple board that sought to evict the monks, who were accused of ignoring their spiritual duties at the 20-acre temple... Kane County Judge Wiley Edmondson said the temple board has the authority to evict the monks in the landlord-tenant dispute but acknowledged there was a vague agreement on how long they could stay... Howard Miller, an attorney for the monks, argued the men never denied spiritual guidance to the temple's suburban flock. The temple board also violated Buddhist doctrine, which is akin to a legal contract, he said."