@NoPlaceForSheep
I may not be an expert - I’m relying on a couple of media ethics lectures - but I believe an offer of an apology post on your blog may get you out of the need to pay legal costs and a court may find in your favour.
Although the apology itself would look rather ridiculous when expressed, it may be enough to get off.
”Sorry for doing some investigative journalism and stating on the Internet which church you attend and from that inferring a slightly incorrect version of your belief system which, however marginally, according to you is tarnishing your public character more than simply stating the available information that you are a fundamentalist Christian may have done” really does sound a bit pathetic. But if it’s what she’s asking for…
My humble suggestion is to ask for a retweet from Leslie Cannold et al asking for pro bono advice from an attorney or firm qualified in, or specialising in, defamation law.
“If an aggrieved person does not accept an offer which is in all the circumstances a reasonable offer, the publisher may rely on it as a defence to a defamation action brought by that aggrieved person. This defence will involve an assessment by the court as to whether or not an offer to amend is reasonable.” (source)
