Legal Authority
 

This website and the Hermitage operate under the protections afforded by the Constitution of the United States and applicable federal, state, and local law.

Nothing on this website shall be construed as implying affiliation with, sponsorship by, endorsement from, authorization by, or official representation of any other religious body.

The Hermitage expressly disclaims any institutional relationship with the Roman Catholic Church united to the Holy See, Vatican City State, Pope Leo XIV, or any other religious organization except where expressly stated.

This disclaimer is intended to prevent confusion regarding organizational identity and is consistent with applicable principles of trademark, unfair competition, and consumer protection law.

Applicable United States Law

The Hermitage relies upon, among other applicable laws:

• The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, protecting the free exercise of religion and freedom of speech.

• The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. §§ 2000bb–2000bb-4), where applicable.

• The Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 1051 et seq.), governing trademarks and preventing false designation of origin, sponsorship, or affiliation.

• Title 17 of the United States Code (Copyright Act), protecting original literary, artistic, photographic, and digital works.

• Applicable Alaska statutes governing religious, nonprofit, and unincorporated organizations, if organized within the State of Alaska.

Nothing contained on this website is intended to infringe upon the trademarks, copyrights, names, insignia, or intellectual property rights of any church, denomination, religious body, corporation, or governmental entity. Any references to other organizations are made solely for purposes of identification, historical discussion, theological commentary, education, scholarship, criticism, or news reporting where permitted by law.

The names of other religious organizations are used only to identify those organizations accurately and do not imply endorsement, affiliation, communion, recognition, or authorization.

Should any provision of this Legal Disclaimer be determined unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect (severability).

This Legal Disclaimer shall be interpreted under the applicable laws of the United States and, where applicable, the laws of the State of Alaska.