Ɔsɛmpɔw no Nea Ɛyɛe a Efii Ase Koraa

STRATTON, OHIO, U.S.A., yɛ kurow ketewaa bi a ɛbɛn Ohio Asubɔnten a ɛda Ohio ne Virginia Atɔe fam ntam no ho. Wɔkyerɛ sɛ ɛyɛ akuraa, na ɛwɔ obi a ɔhwɛ so. Akyinnyegye bi sɔree wɔ saa kurow ketewaa a emufo nnu 300 yi mu prɛko pɛ wɔ 1999 mu bere a atumfoɔ a ɛwɔ hɔ no bɔɔ mmɔden sɛ wɔbɛhyɛ mmara atia Yehowa Adansefo ne afoforo sɛ, ɛsɛ sɛ wogye tumi krataa ansa na wɔde wɔn Bible mu nkrasɛm no akɔ nnipa a wɔte hɔnom no afie mu no.

Dɛn nti na eyi yɛ ɔsɛmpɔw a ɛho hia? Bere a wugu so kenkan yɛn asɛm yi no, wubehu sɛ saa aban mmara ne tumi yi bɛto kasa mu ahofadi a ɛnyɛ Yehowa Adansefo nkutoo na ɛwɔ hɔ ma na mmom wɔn a wɔte United States nyinaa nso no ano hye.

Sɛnea Ɛyɛe a Ntawntawdi no Fii Ase

Yehowa Adansefo Asafo a ɛwɔ Wellsville a wɔne mpɔtam hɔ mpanyimfo binom anya asɛm pɛn wɔ saa afie-afie ɔsom adwuma no ho fi 1979 mu no de mfe pii na asrasra nkurɔfo a wɔte Stratton no. Wɔ 1990 mfiase mu no, wɔn mpɔtam hɔ polisini panyin bi pam Adansefo kuw bi fii kurow no mu, kae sɛ: “Hokwan ahorow a mowɔ biara mfa me ho.”

Asɛm no bɛyɛɛ asɛnnennen wɔ 1998 mu bere a Stratton kurow no sohwɛfo ankasa ne Yehowa Adansefo baanan de bɔɔ anim no. Na wɔte kar mu fi akuraase hɔ rekɔ bere a na wɔasan akɔsra emufo a wɔkyerɛɛ Bible mu nsɛm ho nkɔmmɔbɔ ho anigye no. Sɛnea mmea a ɔne wɔn bɔɔ anim no mu biako kyerɛ no, kurow no sohwɛfo no kae sɛ, sɛ Adansefo no yɛ mmarima a, anka ɔde wɔn begu afiase.

Nea ɛkɔfaa ntawntawdi a edi akyiri yi bae ne mmara a wɔhyɛe wɔ kurom hɔ a ɛyɛ “Adetɔnfo ne Adesrɛfo a Wofi Wɔn Pɛ Mu Kɔ Nkurɔfo Afie Mu Ho Mmara,” a na ɛhwehwɛ sɛ obiara gye tumi krataa a wontua ho hwee fi kurow no sohwɛfo hɔ ansa na watumi akɔ afoforo afie mu akodi dwuma bi no. Yehowa Adansefo buu saa mmara yi sɛ ɛyɛ kasa mu ahofadi, ɔsom mu ahofadi, ne nsɛm ho amanneɛbɔ mu ahofadi ano a wosiw. Enti, bere a ɔman no ampene sɛ wɔbɛsakra mmara yi mu no, wɔde asɛm no kɔɔ aban asɛnnibea.

Wɔ July 27, 1999 no, wodii asɛm no wɔ U.S. ɔmantam asɛnnibea temmufo a ɔhwɛ Ohio Anafo Mantam so no anim. Ogye toom sɛ kurow no wɔ mmara ho kwan sɛ wosi saa gyinae no. Ɛno akyi no, wɔ February 20, 2001 no, U.S. Asɛnnibea a Wɔde Nsɛm Kɔdan Wɔn Ma Ɔmansin a Ɛto Asia no nso sii hokwan a kurow no wɔ wɔ amanyɔ mmara mu no so dua.

Nea ɛbɛyɛ na ɔsɛmpɔw no to atwa koraa no, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York ne Yehowa Adansefo Asafo a ɛwɔ Wellsville mpɔtam hɔ no de adesrɛ kɔtoo U.S. Asɛnnibea Kunini no anim sɛ wɔnsan nhwehwɛ asɛm no mu.

Asɛnnibea Kunini Pene So sɛ Obedi Asɛm No

WƆ MFE KAKRA A ABƐSEN MU NO, Asɛnnibea Kunini no apene so sɛ obedi nsɛm 7,000 a wɔkyerɛw ba asɛnnibea hɔ afe biara no mu 80 kosi 90—nea ɛboro ɔha mu nkyem 1!

Wɔ May 2001 no, Yehowa Adansefo kyerɛw wɔn Adesrɛde Krataa (krataa a wɔde bisa kwan ma wɔsan hwehwɛ asɛm bi mu) de kɔɔ Asɛnnibea Kunini, kobisae sɛ: “So nyamesom asomfo a wokura tete amanne a egyina Kyerɛwnsɛm so a ɛne sɛ wɔne afoforo di wɔn gyidi ho nkitaho wɔ afie afie no ne adetɔnfo a wɔde nneɛma kyinkyin yɛ pɛ wɔ mmara mu, na so ɛsɛ sɛ wogye ɔman tumi krataa ansa na wɔaka Bible mu asɛm akyerɛ anaasɛ wɔde Bible ho nhoma ama a wonnye hwee?”

Wɔ October 15, 2001 no, wɔbɔɔ Ɔwɛn Aban Asafo no Mmara Dwumadibea no amanneɛ sɛ U.S. Asɛnnibea Kunini no agye atom sɛ wɔbɛsan ahwehwɛ Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc., et al. v. Village of Stratton et al. asɛm no mu!

Asɛnnibea no penee kasa mu ahofadi ho ɔsɛmpɔw pɔtee bi so, kyerɛ sɛ, ebia hokwan a nnipa wɔ sɛ wɔka biribi ho asɛm kyerɛ afoforo a ɛho nhia sɛ wodi kan da wɔn ho adi kyerɛ aban tumidi bi no ka ahobammɔ a Nsakrae a Edi Kan no de ma kasa mu ahofadi no ho anaa.

Afei de na ɛsɛ sɛ afanu no nyinaa bɛbɔ wɔn nkuro wɔ U.S. Asɛnnibea Kunini no atemmufo baakron no anim. Ná Adansefo no de wɔn mmaranimfo bɛba; na Stratton Akuraa no nso de wɔn mmaranimfo aba. Ná nsɛm bɛkɔ so dɛn wɔ asɛnnibea hɔ?

[Adaka wɔ kratafa 5]

DƐN NE NSAKRAE A EDI KAN NO?

“NSAKRAE I (ƆSOM A WƆHYEHYƐ; ƆSOM, KASA, NSƐM HO AMANNEƐBƆ, NHYIAM, ADESRƐDE, MU AHOFADI) Mmarahyɛ Bagua no renhyɛ mmara biara mfa ɔsom bi a wɔhyehyɛ, anaasɛ ahofadi a wɔde bedi dwuma ho; anaasɛ ɔnto kasa mu ahofadi anaa nsɛm mu amanneɛbɔ ahofadi ano hye; anaasɛ ɔrenhyɛ ɔmanfo no hokwan a wɔwɔ sɛ wohyia wɔ asomdwoe mu, ne adesrɛ a wɔde bɛto Aban anim ma wasiesie wɔn asɛm ama wɔn no ho mmara.”—The U.S. Constitution

“Nsakrae a Edi Kan no na United States kwasafo amammui no gyina so. Nsakrae a Edi Kan no mma Mmarahyɛ Bagua no kwan sɛ ɛbɛhyɛ mmara a etia kasa mu ahofadi, nsɛm ho amanneɛbɔ, gua a wɔbɔ wɔ asomdwoe mu, anaa adesrɛ ho kwan. Nnipa pii bu kasa mu ahofadi sɛ ɛyɛ ahofadi titiriw a ɛsen biara ne ahofadi nyinaa fapem. Nsakrae a Edi Kan no san bara Mmarahyɛ Bagua no sɛ ɛbɛhyɛ mmara de ɔman som asi hɔ anaa ebesiw ɔsom mu ahofadi kwan.” (The World Book Encyclopedia) Nea yebetumi ahyɛ no nsow no, wɔ gyinaesi titiriw bi a ɛno nso fa Yehowa Adansefo ho, Cantwell v. Connecticut, 310 U.S. 296 (1940) asɛm no mu no, U.S. Asɛnnibea Kunini no hyɛe sɛ ɛnyɛ “Mmarahyɛ Bagua no” (aban no) nko na Nsakrae a Edi Kan no mma wɔn kwan na mmom mpɔtam hɔ amammui mpanyimfo (ɔman ne kurow) no nso nni hokwan sɛ wɔhyɛ mmara a ebebu Nsakrae a Edi Kan no so de atia ɔman mmara.

[Mfonini ahorow wɔ kratafa 5]

Nsɛmpɔw a ɛwɔ asɛm no mu no fa afie afie dwumadi ahorow ho

[Mfonini Fibea wɔ kratafa 4]

Photograph by Franz Jantzen, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States

Ɔfã a Edi Kan​—Nkuro a Wɔbɔ Wɔ Asɛnnibea Kunini no Anim

DAA WƆHYƐE sɛ wobetie afanu no nkurobɔ wɔ Ɔtemmufo Panyin William Rehnquist ne n’atemmufo baawɔtwe a wɔka ne ho wɔ Asɛnnibea Kunini no anim no ne February 26, 2002. Mmaranimfo baanan na wobegyinaa Yehowa Adansefo no ananmu.

Nea odi Adansefo no mmaranimfo no anim no de nnianim asɛm a ɛtwetwe adwene na efii ne nkurobɔ no ase sɛ: “Ɛyɛ Memeneda anɔpa 11:00 wɔ Stratton Akuraa. [Afei ɔbɔɔ asɛnnibea kyeame pon no so mprɛnsa.] ‘Mema wo akye. Esiane nnansa yi nsɛm a esisi nti, mabɔ mmɔden titiriw sɛ mɛba wo fie ne wo abɛka nea Odiyifo Yesaia kaa ho asɛm sɛ asɛmpa no ho asɛm akyerɛ wo. Ɛno ne asɛmpa a Kristo Yesu kaa ho asɛm kyerɛe, Onyankopɔn Ahenni ho asɛmpa no.’”

Ɔtoaa so sɛ: “Ɛyɛ bɔne sɛ wobɛkɔ afie afie wɔ Stratton Akuraa de saa nkrasɛm no akɔma gye sɛ wudi kan gye tumi krataa fi akuraa no ase mpanyimfo hɔ ansa.”

‘So Monsrɛ Sika?’

Ɔtemmufo Stephen G. Breyer bisaa Adansefo no ho nsɛm bi a ɛho hia. Obisae sɛ: “So ɛyɛ nokware sɛ wo nkurɔfo a wugyina wɔn ananmu yi nsrɛ sika biara, kaprɛ mpo, ne sɛ wɔntontɔn Bible, na wɔntɔn biribiara ka asɛm a wɔka sɛ, ‘Mepɛ sɛ meka ɔsom ho asɛm kyerɛ wo’ no ho?”

Mmaranimfo a ogyina Yehowa Adansefo no ananmu no buae sɛ: “Me Wura, adanse wɔ hɔ pefee sɛ, Yehowa Adansefo annye sika wɔ Stratton Akuraase hɔ. Wɔ mmeae afoforo no, adanse no da adi pefee sɛ ɛtɔ mmere bi a wɔka ntoboa a wofi ɔpɛ mu yi ho asɛm. . . . Ɛnyɛ sika na yɛrehwehwɛ. Nea yɛhwehwɛ ara ne sɛ yɛbɛka Bible no mu asɛm akyerɛ nkurɔfo.”

So Ehia sɛ Aban Ma Ho Kwan Ansa?

Ɔtemmufo Antonin Scalia de nhumu bisae sɛ: “So ɛnyɛ wo nsusuwii ne sɛ ɛnsɛ sɛ wokɔ kurow no sohwɛfo hɔ kogye tumi krataa ansa na woatumi aka asɛm bi a ɛyɛ anigye akyerɛ ofipamfo bi anaa?” Adansefo no mmaranimfo no buae sɛ: “Yennye nni sɛ ɛsɛ sɛ saa Asɛnnibea yi gye Aban a ne mmara hwehwɛ sɛ ɛsɛ sɛ ɔman ba bi gye tumi krataa ansa na wɔatumi ne ɔman ba foforo akɔkasa wɔ ne fie no tom.”

Nkurobɔ Foforo, Su a Ɛsakra

Afei na adu Akuraa no so sɛ wɔde wɔn asɛm bɛto gua. Nea odi Akuraa no mmaranimfo no anim no kyerɛkyerɛɛ Stratton mmara no mu, kae sɛ: “Stratton de tumi a ɛwɔ sɛ ɛbɔ ne manfo ho ban no redi dwuma de abɔ ne manfo no kokoam nsɛm ho ban, bere a ɛhwɛ sɛ ɛrenhyɛ nsɛmmɔnedi ho nkuran no. Mmara a ɛkyerɛ sɛ wonnni adanse anaa wommmisa ade wɔ nkurɔfo afie mu no hwehwɛ sɛ wobedi kan de wɔn din ahyɛ mmara ase na wɔakura tumi krataa wɔ wɔn afie afie dwumadi no mu ara kwa.”

Ɔtemmufo Scalia faa aba a ɛwɔ asɛm no mu ntɛmpa ara bisae sɛ: “So munim asɛm foforo bi a [Asɛnnibea Kunini] no adi a ɛte saa a ɛfa mmara yi mpo ho, a ɛfa hokwan a wobisa, sika a ɛnsɛ sɛ wɔsrɛ, ade a ɛnsɛ sɛ wɔtɔn ho, na mo ankasa munim sɛ wɔka sɛ, ‘Mepɛ sɛ meka Yesu Kristo ho asɛm,’ anaa ‘Mepɛ sɛ meka nneɛma a atwa yɛn ho ahyia ho ban a yɛbɛbɔ ho asɛm?’ So yɛadi asɛm bi a ɛte saa pɛn?”

Ɔtemmufo Scalia toa so sɛ: “Bɛboro mfe ahanu ni, minhuu asɛm a ɛte saa da.” Ɛno na Ɔtemmufo Panyin Rehnquist twaa n’ano kae sɛ: “Wobaa wiase nkyɛe saa.” Ɛno maa wɔn a wɔwɔ asɛnnibea hɔ nyinaa serewee. Ɔtemmufo Scalia toaa n’asɛm no so sɛ: “Eyi yɛ me asɛm foforo koraa.”

Nsusuwii a Eye Kyɛn So?

Ɔtemmufo Anthony M. Kennedy bisaa asɛm a emu da hɔ sɛ: “Wususuw sɛ ɛyɛ nsusuwii a eye kyɛn so sɛ mesrɛ Aban hɔ tumi ansa na mapue akogyina kwan ho, baabi a minnim nnipa a wɔwɔ hɔ no nyinaa, [na] maka sɛ, mepɛ sɛ me ne wo kasa efisɛ nwura a wɔbɛsesaw ho asɛm hia me, efisɛ yɛn Mmarahyɛ Baguani ho asɛm hia me, anaa biribi a ɛte saa. So ɛsɛ sɛ mesrɛ Aban ansa na matumi ayɛ saa?” Ɔde kaa ho sɛ, “Ɛyɛ nwonwa.”

Afei, Ɔtemmufo Sandra Day O’Connor de n’ano too asɛm no mu bisae sɛ: “Na wɔn a wowura afie mu buronya bere hunahuna nkurɔfo gye aduan ne nsa kwa no nso ɛ? So ɛsɛ sɛ wogye tumi krataa? Atemmufo O’Connor ne Scalia nyinaa annyae nsusuwii yi mu. Ɔtemmufo O’Connor de asɛm foforo too gua: “Na sɛ wokɔ wo fipamfo hɔ kɔfɛm asikre kakra nso ɛ? So ɛsɛ sɛ migye tumi krataa ansa na makɔfɛm asikre kakra afi me fipamfo hɔ?”

So Adansefo no Yɛ Asotufo?

Ɔtemmufo David H. Souter bisae sɛ: “Dɛn nti na saa mmara yi fa Yehowa Adansefo ho? So wɔyɛ asotufo, wɔsrɛsrɛ ade, wɔtɔn ade, wosi konko, anaa wɔde wɔn nneɛma kyinkyin afoforo so tɔn ma wɔn? Wɔnyɛ eyinom mu biara, ɛnte saa?” Akuraa no mmaranimfo no kenkanee mmara no mu nsɛm pii na ɔde kaa ho sɛ ɔmansin no asɛnnibea no akyerɛ Yehowa Adansefo ase sɛ asotufo. Ɛfa eyi ho no, Ɔtemmufo Souter maa no mmuae sɛ: “Sɛ Yehowa Adansefo ka asotufo ho a, ɛnde na mowɔ ɛho nkyerɛase a ɛkɔ akyiri papa.”

Afei Ɔtemmufo Breyer faa nsɛm asekyerɛ nhoma nkyerɛase a ɛfa asotu ho de kyerɛe sɛ ɛmfa Yehowa Adansefo ho. Ɔde kaa ho sɛ: “Menkenkanee biribiara wɔ wo nsɛm no mu a ɛfa atirimpɔw nti a wɔhwehwɛ sɛ saa [Yehowa Adansefo] a wɔnhwehwɛ sika, wɔntɔn ade, wɔn ani nnye abatow ho mpo no kɔ baabi a ɔmanfo hyia de wɔn din kɔhyɛ aban nhoma mu. Dɛn ne kurow no atirimpɔw?”

“Hokwan” a Wɔde Da Nsusuwii Adi

Akuraa no mmaranimfo kae afei sɛ “kurow no atirimpɔw ne sɛ wɔbɛkwati abufuw a wɔbɛhyɛ ofiewuranom no.” Ɔsan kyerɛɛ mu sɛ wɔyɛe na ama wɔde abɔ ɔmanfo ho ban afi amimdi ne nsɛmmɔnedifo ho. Ɔtemmufo Scalia faa mmara no mu nsɛm kae de kyerɛe sɛ kurow sohwɛfo no betumi ahwehwɛ dinkyerɛw no ho nsɛm mu akɔ akyiri na ama “wɔatumi akyerɛ hokwan a ɔhwehwɛ no mu pɛpɛɛpɛ.” Ɔde kaa ho pefee sɛ: “Hokwan a obi wɔ sɛ ɔkɔ ne man mufo nkyɛn ne wɔn kosusuw biribi ho dan wɔn ti—minhu ntease a ɛwɔ eyi mu.”

Ɔtemmufo Scalia san bisae sɛ: “So ɛsɛ sɛ wɔhwehwɛ sɛ obiara a ɔbɔ obi pon mu no kɔ baabi a ɔmanfo hyia ma wɔhwɛ ne nsateaa ano nsensanee ansa na watumi abɔ ɔpon bi mu? Ne sɛ nsɛmmɔnedi a ɛntaa nsi yi nti na ɛsɛ sɛ obiara a ɔpɛ sɛ ɔbɔ pon bi mu no kogye tumi krataa fi beae a ɔmanfo hyia no? Nokwarem no, ɛnte saa.”

So Mmara no Bɔ Ɔmanfo Ho Ban?

Simma 20 a wɔde maa Akuraa no mmaranimfo no soe no, ɔdanee nkurobɔ no maa Ohio man no mmara mu kwankyerɛfo panyin no. Ɔkae sɛ mmara a ɛmma adesrɛ ho kwan no bɔ ɔmanfo no ho ban fi ahɔho ho, “a ɛda adi sɛ ɔyɛ obi a mentoo nsa mfrɛɛ no, [a] waba m’asase so . . . na misusuw sɛ akuraa no wɔ hokwan sɛ ɛka sɛ, ‘Dwumadi a ɛte saa ho asɛm haw yɛn.’”

Afei Ɔtemmufo Scalia kae sɛ: “Akuraa no reka sɛ, sɛ mpo nnipa a wogye Yehowa Adansefo yi te hɔ a wɔayɛ ankonam, na wɔbɛpɛ sɛ wɔne obi bɔ nkɔmmɔ fa biribiara ho a, ɛda so ara hia sɛ saa nkurɔfo [Yehowa Adansefo] yi kɔ kurow sohwɛfo no hɔ kogye tumi krataa ansa na wɔanya hokwan abɔ wɔn apon mu.”

“Anohyeto a Enni Mũ Ankasa”

Bere a wogu so rebisabisa nsɛm no, Ɔtemmufo Scalia kaa asɛm bi a tumi wom bere a ɔkae sɛ: “Yɛn nyinaa betumi agye atom sɛ aman a emu dwo wɔ wiase no yɛ nea ɛhyɛ katabaako nniso ase. Nsɛmmɔnedi nnɔɔso wɔ hɔ. Ɛyɛ nokwasɛm a wogye tom wɔ baabiara, na nea efi ahofadi mu ba no biako ne mmarato, na ɔsɛmpɔw a ɛma ɛsɔre ne sɛ ebia nea enti a wɔyɛɛ eyi no bɛbrɛ mmarato ase ma ɛne ahofadi a obi betumi de abɔ obi pon mu a wɔbɛhwere no ahyia.” Afei mmara mu kwankyerɛfo panyin no gyee so sɛ “ɛyɛ anohyeto a enni mũ ankasa.” Ɔtemmufo Scalia buae sɛ anohyeto no nni mũ ara ma “yentumi nhu asɛm biako mpo a ɛkyerɛ sɛ kurow bi ahyɛ mmara a ɛte saa pɛn. Minsusuw sɛ edi mu.”

Awiei koraa no, ɔtemmufo biako maa mmara mu kwankyerɛfo panyin no gye toom sɛ: “Ɛbɛyɛ den ama me sɛ mɛka sɛ obi betumi abara apon a wɔbom koraa.” Ɔkaa saa no, ne nkurobɔ no sii.

Bere a wɔredi anobaebae no, Adansefo no mmaranimfo no kae sɛ mmara no nni nnyinaso titiriw biara. “Metumi akɔ baabi a ɔmanfo hyia hɔ na maka sɛ, ‘Meyɛ [Asiamasi],’ na magye tumi krataa akɔ afie afie mu.” Ɔkae nso sɛ kurow sohwɛfo no wɔ tumi sɛ ɔremma obi a ɔka sɛ onni ahyehyɛde biara mu no tumi krataa. Ɔkae sɛ: “Yegye di sɛ eyi da tumi a ɔwɔ sɛ osi gyinae wɔ biribi ho no adi pefee,” na ɔde kaa ho sɛ: “Mifi obu mu reka sɛ yɛn [Yehowa Adansefo] dwumadi no yɛ nea nokwarem no, ɛyɛ ade titiriw wɔ Nsakrae a Edi Kan no mu.”

Eyi akyi bere tiaa bi no, Ɔtemmufo Panyin Rehnquist twaa nkurobɔ no so, na ɔkae sɛ: “Yɛde asɛm no rekɔ [Asɛnnibea Kunini].” Asɛnnii no nyinaa gyee bɛyɛ dɔnhwerew biako ne kakra. Yebehu sɛnea na saa dɔnhwerew no som bo wɔ atemmu a wɔkyerɛw de too gua wɔ June mu no mu.

[Mfonini ahorow wɔ kratafa 6]

Ɔtemmufo Panyin Rehnquist

Ɔtemmufo Breyer

Ɔtemmufo Scalia

[Nsɛm Fibea]

Rehnquist: Collection, The Supreme Court Historical Society/Dane Penland; Breyer: Collection, The Supreme Court Historical Society/Richard Strauss; Scalia: Collection, The Supreme Court Historical Society/Joseph Lavenburg

[Mfonini ahorow wɔ kratafa 7]

Ɔtemmufo Kennedy

Ɔtemmufo O’Connor

Ɔtemmufo Souter

[Nsɛm Fibea]

Kennedy: Collection, The Supreme Court Historical Society/Robin Reid; O’Connor: Collection, The Supreme Court Historical Society/Richard Strauss; Souter: Collection, The Supreme Court Historical Society/Joseph Bailey

[Mfonini wɔ kratafa 8]

Asɛnnibea mpia mu

[Asɛm Fibea]

Photograph by Franz Jantzen, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States

Asɛnnibea Kunini Di Ma Ɔkasa Mu Ahofadi

GYINAESI DA NO duu so June 17, 2002, bere a Asɛnnibea Kunini no de n’atemmu a wɔakyerɛw no too gua no. Dɛn ne gyinaesi no? Atesɛm krataa nsɛmti de asɛm no too gua. The New York Times bɔɔ dawuru sɛ: “Asɛnnibea Atwa Yehowa Adansefo Nsrahwɛ Anohyeto no Mu.” The Columbus Dispatch a ɛwɔ Ohio no kae sɛ: “Asɛnnibea Kɛse Atwa Tumi Krataa a Wogye Mu.” The Plain Dealer a ɛwɔ Cleveland, Ohio, kaa no tiawa sɛ: “Wɔn a Wobisa Hokwan Nhia Kurow mu Mpanyimfo Mpeneso.” USA Today atesɛm krataa no fã a ɛka afoforo nsusuwii ho asɛm no kae sɛ: “Kasa Mu Ahofadi Di Nkonim.”

Wotwaa gyinae a Asɛnnibea ketewa no sii de tiaa Yehowa Adansefo no mu denam abatow a atemmufo 8 tow de tiaa 1 no so! Ɔtemmufo John Paul Stevens na ɔkyerɛw Asɛnnibea no Atemmu a ekura nkratafa 18 no. Gyinaesi no yɛ ade titiriw a ɛsan sii Nsakrae a Edi Kan a ɛbɔ Yehowa Adansefo baguam asɛnka no ho ban no so dua. Wɔ Adansefo no asɛm a wɔkyerɛwee no mu no, Asɛnnibea no kyerɛkyerɛɛ mu sɛ, Adansefo no ammisa sɛ wɔmma wɔn tumi krataa efisɛ wɔkyerɛ sɛ “wonya wɔn tumi a wɔde ka asɛm no fi Kyerɛwnsɛm no mu.” Afei, Asɛnnibea no faa adanse a Adansefo no twee adwene sii so no mu asɛm kae: “Yɛte nka sɛ sɛ́ yebegye tumi krataa afi kurow bi mpanyimfo hɔ de aka asɛm no bɛkyerɛ animtiaa a yebu Onyankopɔn.”

Asɛnnibea Atemmu no kae sɛ: “Asɛnnibea no atwa afie afie a wɔkɔ ne nkratawa a wɔde ma ho anohyeto no mu bɛboro mfe 50 ni. Ɛnyɛ asɛm a ɛne abakɔsɛm ahyia ara kwa, sɛ nsɛm yi mu pii fa Nsakrae a Edi Kan a Yehowa Adansefo de ho asɛm bɛtoo asɛnnibea no anim ho, efisɛ wɔn som no hwehwɛ sɛ wɔkɔ afie afie. Sɛnea yɛhyɛɛ no nsow wɔ Murdock v. Pennsylvania, . . . (1943) asɛm no mu no, Yehowa Adansefo ‘kyerɛ sɛ wodi Paulo nhwɛso akyi, kyerɛkyerɛ “gua so ne afie” mu. Asomafo no Nnwuma 20:20. Wobu Kyerɛwnsɛm mu ahyɛde yi, “Monkɔ wiase nyinaa nkɔka asɛmpa no nkyerɛ abɔde nyinaa” no sɛ ɛyɛ paara. Marko 16:15. Wɔ saa a wɔyɛ mu no, wogye di sɛ wɔredi Onyankopɔn ahyɛde bi so.’”

Afei Atemmu no san faa 1943 asɛm no mu asɛm kae sɛ: “Saa ɔsom mu adeyɛ yi kura gyinabea koro wɔ Nsakrae a Edi Kan no mu te sɛ som a wɔsom wɔ asɔredan mu ne asɛm a wogyina asɛnka agua so ka no ara. Ɛwɔ ɔsom mu bammɔ hokwan te sɛ ortodɔks ne amammerɛ som mu nneyɛe ahorow no ara.” Bere a Atemmu no refa 1939 asɛm bi mu nsɛm aka no, ɛkae sɛ: “Nhwehwɛmu a wɔbɛyɛ denam tumi krataa a ɛmma kwan mma wɔnkyekyɛ kratawa so no de mmara mu hokwan no to asiane mu.”—Wɔn na wɔasi ɔfã bi so dua no.

Afei, Asɛnnibea no de asɛntitiriw bi too gua: “Asɛm no ma ɛda adi sɛ mmɔden a Yehowa Adansefo no bɔ de ko tia ɔkasa mu anohyeto no nyɛ aperepere a wodi ma wɔn nkutoo ho.” Atemmu no kyerɛɛ mu sɛ ɛnyɛ Adansefo no “nkutoo ne nnipa a ‘wɔba fam’ a wohyia mmara a ɛte sɛ Akuraa no de no a ɛpɛ sɛ womua wɔn ano no.”

Atemmu no kɔɔ so kae sɛ mmara no “yɛ animtiaabu—ma gyinapɛn ahorow a Nsakrae a Edi Kan no bɔ ho ban no ne ɔmanfo no ahofadi nso—kyerɛ sɛ wɔ da biara da nkɔmmɔbɔ mu no, ɛsɛ sɛ ɔman ba biara ma aban hu sɛ ɔpɛ sɛ ɔne n’afipamfo bɔ nkɔmmɔ, na ogye tumi krataa de yɛ saa. . . . Mmara a ɛhwehwɛ sɛ wogye tumi krataa ansa na wɔabɔ nkɔmmɔ no yɛ man a wɔaman afi ɔman apɛgyade ne amanyɔ mmara ho koraa.” Afei Atemmu no kaa “nkɛntɛnso bɔne ankasa a saa tumi krataa a wɔhwehwɛ no de ba no ho asɛm.”

Nsɛmmɔnedi Ho Asiane

Na adwene a wokura sɛ tumi krataa yɛ bammɔ a etia awifo ne nsɛmmɔnedifo afoforo no nso ɛ? Asɛnnibea no kae sɛ: “Ɛmfa ho ahiasɛm yi a wɔagye atom sɛ ntease wom no, nhwɛso a ɛwɔ hɔ no da adi pefee sɛ ɛsɛ sɛ yɛma abusuabɔ a ɛda eyi ne Nsakrae a Edi Kan hokwan ahorow mu no kari pɛ.”

Asɛnnibea no Atemmu no toaa so sɛ: “Ɛkame ayɛ sɛ entumi mma sɛ tumi krataa a enni hɔ besiw nsɛmmɔnedifo kwan wɔ nkurɔfo apon mu a wɔbɛbɔ ne wɔn abɔ nkɔmmɔ a mmara no nka ho asɛm ho. Ebia, sɛ nhwɛso no, wɔbɛka sɛ wɔmma wɔn akwankyerɛ, anaa wobebisa hokwan de telefon afrɛ obi, . . . anaa wɔde afoforo din begye tumi krataa afa wɔn ho adi.”

Asɛnnibea no reka 1940 mfe no mu gyinaesi ahorow ho asɛm no, ɛkyerɛwee sɛ: “Nsɛm a wɔde dii dwuma wɔ Wiase Ko II mu no adwenkyerɛ ahorow no mu a ɛkɔɔ so gyee guantoafo [Ɔwɛn Aban Asafo] no fii asɛnni nketenkete ho no daa Asɛnnibea no adwene a ɛwɔ wɔ Nsakrae a Edi Kan no mu ahofadi horow a wɔatwe aba asɛm yi mu ho no adi.”

Dɛn ne Asɛnnibea no gyinaesi a etwa to? “Wɔadan Asɛnnibea a Wɔde Nsɛm Kɔdan no no atemmu no ani, na wɔde asɛm no resan akɔ Asɛnnibea hɔ akodi ho dwuma sɛnea ɛne atemmu yi hyia. Eyi ne yɛn ahyɛde.”

Enti, na asɛm no awiei ne sɛ, sɛnea wɔkaa no wɔ Chicago Sun-Times mu no, “Asɛnnibea no Gyina Yehowa Adansefo Akyi,” denam atemmufo 8 a wogyina wɔn akyi tia 1 no so.

Na Daakye Nso Ɛ?

Ɔkwan bɛn so na Yehowa Adansefo a wɔwɔ Wellsville Asafo no mu no abu nkonim a wodii wɔ Asɛnnibea Kunini no? Akyinnye biara nni ho sɛ ɛnsɛ sɛ wɔde tu wɔn ho de hyɛ Strattonfo aniwu. Adansefo no nni akuraa no ase adehye no ho menasepɔw biara. Gregory Kuhar, Ɔdansefo bi a ɔwɔ mpɔtam hɔ, kae sɛ: “Na yɛmpɛ sɛ yɛde asɛm yi kɔ asɛnnibea. Ɛda adi pefee sɛ na mmara no nteɛ. Ɛnyɛ yɛn nkutoo nti na yɛyɛɛ eyi, na mmom yɛyɛ maa obiara.”

Nokwasɛm no da no adi sɛ Adansefo no ammɔ mmɔden sɛ wobeyi mpɔtam hɔfo no ahi. Ɔdansefo foforo, Gene Koontz, kyerɛkyerɛɛ mu sɛ: “Bere a etwa to a yɛkaa asɛm wɔ Stratton no yɛ March 7, 1998—ɛboro mfe anan ni.” Ɔde kaa ho sɛ: “Wɔka kyerɛɛ m’ankasa sɛ wɔbɛkyere me. Wɔkaa yɛn ho nsɛm pii wɔ mmere a na polisifo hunahuna yɛn no mu. Afei bere a yebisae sɛ wɔmma yɛnhwɛ mmara a wɔakyerɛw ankasa no, wɔamma yɛn mmuae biara.”

Koontz de kaa ho sɛ: “Yɛbɛpɛ mmom sɛ yɛne yɛn afipamfo benya abusuabɔ pa. Sɛ ebinom mpɛ sɛ yɛbɛsra wɔn a, yegye saa gyinaesi no tom. Nanso, afoforo wɔ hɔ a wɔda adamfofa su adi na wɔkyerɛ Bible mu nkɔmmɔbɔ ho anigye.”

Gregory Kuhar kyerɛkyerɛɛ mu sɛ: “Yɛanni asɛm yi akyi sɛ yɛde resɔre atia Strattonfo. Ná nea yɛhwehwɛ ara ne sɛ kasa mu ahofadi a yɛwɔ wɔ Amanyɔ Mmara mu no bɛda adi.”

Ɔtoaa so sɛ: “Awiei koraa no, yɛhwɛ kwan sɛ yɛbɛsan akɔ Stratton. M’ani begye sɛ mɛyɛ nea odi kan a ɔbɛbɔ ɔpon bi mu wɔ bere a yɛasan akɔ hɔ no. Ɛsɛ sɛ yɛsan kɔ hɔ sɛnea Kristo ahyɛde kyerɛ no.”

Nea efii “Watchtower v. Village of Stratton” no mu bae no anya nkɛntɛnso a ɛkɔ akyiri. Bere a wɔtee Asɛnnibea Kunini no gyinaesi no, U.S. nkurow mu atumfoɔ pii behui sɛ wɔrentumi mfa wɔn mpɔtam mmara ahorow nto Yehowa Adansefo asɛmpaka adwuma no ano hye. Ɛde besi nnɛ no, wɔadi bɛyɛ aman 90 a ɛwɔ United States no afie afie asɛnka ho nsɛnnennen ho dwuma.