I.   Introductory Provisions

A Penalty is a voluntary and prescribed ecclesiastical act demonstrating remorse and forgiveness first defined under Sacred Law in the 8^th Century CE and agreed to be performed in the event of some default of obligation. A non-voluntary prescribed act is an act of vengeance or punitive measure, commonly known as cruelty, torture or punishment.

The word penalty is derived from 8^th Century Sacred Law and the Latin term “penitus” meaning “honest self examination, to look inside deeply, thoroughly” and is the origin of the concept of the sacred self-confession. The twin concept of self examination at ones faults was then derived from the Latin “purgo/purgare” meaning to “cleanse, purge, clear away, to purify” by acts of deep prayer and meditation, self deprivation, humility, charity

The fundamental principle of all valid Penalties since the 8th Century CE is that when a man or woman gives their Oath or Solemn Promise to perform certain obligations, they bind themselves to such agreement such that unless they choose to abjure, or abdicate or resign in Honor, they remain liable to perform. If then, such a man or woman fails to perform and then fails to rectify their breach of duty they are culpable and subject to the penalties expressed to them prior to making a formal Oath or Solemn Promise.

All valid Penalties fall into one of two primary categories being Fines or Forefeitures:

(i) A Fine is a pecuniary penalty, and is commonly to be collected by suit in some form; and

(ii) A Forfeiture is a penalty by which one loses his rights and interest in property.

Under the principles of all valid Penalties since the 8th Century CE, there are three types of alleged offender in respect of Penance being Penitent, Resistant and Belligerent:

(i) A Penitent is one who voluntarily confesses through an act of contrition as to their culpability and seeks to make amends and restore their honor through the acceptance of those prescribed Penalties; and

(ii) A Resistant is one who does not disavow the existence of an original agreement and therefore a binding, but resists making a voluntary confession and instead relies upon the strength and will of others to prove their culpability and impose the fair prescribed Penalties; and

(iii) A Belligerent is one who disavows any previous agreement and instead declares themselves hostile to any act to restore honor, or honor the Rule of Law and justice in the application of Penalties, instead relying on the power of others to bring them into custody and impose the fair prescribed Penalties upon valid proof.

By definition since the 8th Century CE, a valid Default or Delinquency must be proven before a Penalty may be imposed by a duly authorized person.

A Penalty can never be levied against an implied contract or tacit (presumed) agreement. Any such Penalties are a profanity and sacrilege as well as being morally repugnant therefore null and void from the beginning having no force or effect ecclesiastically, morally, lawfully or legally.

In respect of Penalties defined and issued by any and all boroughs, councils, states, bodies, entities, companies, corporations or persons formed under any form of Common Law, or Commonwealth Law, or Westminster Law, or Western-Roman Law since 1689, The Bill of Rights (1689) states clearly:

(i) Under clause 10 “that excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed; nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted”; and

(ii) Under clause 12 “that all grants and promises of fines and forfeitures of particular persons before conviction, are illegal and void".

In respect of Penalties defined and issued by any and all counties, councils, states, bodies, entities, companies, corporations or persons formed under the United States since 1791, The US Bill of Rights states clearly in acknowledgment and reinforcement of the 1689 Bill of Rights:

(i) Under the Eighth Amendment that “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted”.

In respect of Penalties defined and issued by any and all counties, councils, states, bodies, entities, companies, corporations or persons formed since 1949 and belonging to a member nation of the United Nations, the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights states clearly in acknowledgment of previous international law under Article II:

(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence; and

(2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Any county, state, department, entity, company, corporation or person that seeks to impose a Penalty in defiance of well established international law and the historic and ancient principles of all Penalties being ecclesiastical is culpable of a wicked profanity and sacrilege against all civilized law and the rule of law, justice and due process. Not only is any such false Penalty null and voice from the beginning without any force or effect ecclesiastically, morally, lawfully or legally, it is the moral duty of all people to resist such criminal threat and behavior.