BROTHERS VOW TO FIGHT FOR THEIR QUARRY HOME

Church of the Universe ministers Walter Tucker and Michael Baldasaro vow
never to accept expulsion from their spiritual home at Clearwater Abbey.

Their pot-smoking and clothing-optional congregation was booted off the
land in 1986 after 18 years of residence under an agreement with former
owners of the abandoned quarry.

Today the environmentally sensitive property, in north Flamborough on the
border of Puslinch, is known as Fletcher Creek Conservation Area and is
owned by Hamilton Region Conservation Authority.

"You deny people who want to worship here, who have to sneak onto the
property and hide when your men come," Tucker told conservation authority
chairman Russ Powers. "As soon as you go away today, we'll be back. We will
never stop coming back and we'll confront you in the courts because what
your doing is a violation of our rights."

Tucker and Baldasaro and three followers met only passive enforcement of a
no-trespass order when they encountered OPP and conservation officers at
the front gates Saturday. The pair had sent out press releases of their
intention to hold a church reunion on the property. Baldasaro said they
called off their supporters to avoid a potentially violent clash with police.

The pair were issued trespassing tickets two weeks ago and plan to fight
the charges. They're also attempting to have their dispute with Ontario
Premier Mike Harris and the conservation authority heard in the Federal
Court of Canada.

The 125 hectare parcel of land is closed to the public and has been posted
with "No Trespassing" signs for many years. But some individuals and
community groups have permission to use the property, including adjacent
neighbors, the Hamilton Naturalists Club, a scuba diving group and an
organization of duck hunters who conduct dog trials on the site.

Powers - his arms crossed in a determined stance reminded the church
members they were specifically barred from entering, although the
conservation authority may reconsider its position in three years when the
land is opened to the public.

Fletcher Creek Conservation Area is considered a prime example of
Carolinian Forest, which runs in a strip along the Atlantic coast of the
United States but is also found in southwestern Ontario. The Flamborough
site has wild irises and other flora and trees unique to the Carolinian zone.

Powers said the scuba club is cleaning up the bottom of the spring-fed
quarry, which is home to snapping turtles and a variety of fish.

The conservation authority has come up with a master plan to restore the
property and make it accessible to the public by building boardwalks around
environmentally sensitive areas and the quarry. Swimming will not be
encouraged and signs will be posted, warning people to swim at their own risk.

In the 1980's, hundreds of church followers gathered at the site each
summer to smoke marijuana and take part in the annual Nude Olympics.