Post by rapha777 on Apr 20, 2005 5:22:04 GMT -5
This article is taken from www.westpress.co.uk written by a street preacher that I know personally. It pertains to the proposed religious hatred
bill.
LAW THAT HITS AT THE HEART OF FAITH
09:56 - 04 April 2005
As an open-air Bible preacher for over 21 years, I am making a last-ditch attempt to explain why this new law would be a disaster for freedom of speech. For the past 11 years, I have spent most Sundays at Speakers Corner, in Hyde Park, London.
Every week I am engaged in often vigorous debate with individuals of other religious belief and with those who strongly oppose all religious belief.
If the Bill becomes law, the offence of being "likely to stir up religious hatred" has a penalty of seven years in jail.
Do we really want to see "religious police" in Britain?
I firmly believe that eventually the new act will be used to criminalise Protestants.
It must be remembered that much of our liberty stems from our Protestant freedom to criticise religion. The Protestant religion is rooted in protest and should not be criminalised.
So what does schedule ten of the Bill actually say?
Simply, it inserts the words "or religious" into the existing law on inciting racial hatred.
The new incitement to religious hatred offence would mirror the effect of the inciting to racial hatred offence.
Therefore, as it is practically impossible to speak about race in Britain today, so it will eventually be almost impossible to speak about religion as a result of the new law. Judges could find themselves persecuting Jesus Christ and letting Barabbas go free - metaphorically speaking, of course.
Also a problem for Bible preachers like me is that they would be trying to defend their Biblical beliefs in the courts while being prosecuted under the race act.
Even if the preacher succeeds in answering the criminal charge regarding a religious dispute in the courts, the result will be that his years of constructive work among the ethnic community will be ruined because the public, including the ethnic community, will remember the references in the press to racism.
The new crime of being "likely to stir up religious hatred" uses the same words as the existing "likely to stir up racial hatred" law.
The proposal defines "religious hatred" to mean hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to religious belief to lack of religious belief.
The Prime Minister's office in Downing Street now claims that the proposed new law "will not prevent criticism of a religion or their adherents".
I ask, if that really is the case then why is it not clearly stated in the words of the legislation?
Unfortunately, once this new criminal offence becomes law no amount of assurance by politicians will really matter. It is then in the hands of the courts.
Judges are charged with applying the law as it is drafted. According to a barrister's opinion I have been given, this law as currently proposed is wide open to broad Draconian interpretation.
In summary, you can be guilty of religious incitement if your words are deemed insulting and there is a likelihood that at least one person is likely to feel intense dislike as a result.
The Government will require that the Attorney General will have to approve of a prosecution but I think they are putting the Attorney General in the position of Pontius Pilate.
Because the wording of the existing race law is properly effective, once the Attorney General washes his hands of setting the innocent free, in response to the demands of the mob, it will almost be certain that the Bible preacher will become a criminal with the prospect of regular and long periods in jail.
Under this new law, if a Protestant speaks against the clearly stated "World Power" objectives of the Roman Catholic Institution or Islam, the Protestant could be jailed for seven years.
Even the Home Office has confirmed that the Bible will not be exempt from the religious hatred legislation. Protestant Christians are shocked that teaching from their Bible could be censored, banned and made illegal.
The Government is going to stifle debate like the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The Government's recent slogan is Britain Forward Not Back.
But this new law would take us back to the Dark Ages. The Government is enacting its own 'inquisition' back into Britain.
Any Government that would make you a criminal for publicly expressing opposition to totalitarian religion should be removed from power at the earliest opportunity.
My parents did not fight both Hitler and Communism for our religious freedom to be removed by any form of Government that is careless with our basic human rights.
As a Bible-believing, evangelical Protestant, I don't hate anyone.
I am commanded by my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to love even my enemies.
Jesus also commands us to share our beliefs with others. I'd be willing to give my life for this let alone go to jail.
bill.
LAW THAT HITS AT THE HEART OF FAITH
09:56 - 04 April 2005
As an open-air Bible preacher for over 21 years, I am making a last-ditch attempt to explain why this new law would be a disaster for freedom of speech. For the past 11 years, I have spent most Sundays at Speakers Corner, in Hyde Park, London.
Every week I am engaged in often vigorous debate with individuals of other religious belief and with those who strongly oppose all religious belief.
If the Bill becomes law, the offence of being "likely to stir up religious hatred" has a penalty of seven years in jail.
Do we really want to see "religious police" in Britain?
I firmly believe that eventually the new act will be used to criminalise Protestants.
It must be remembered that much of our liberty stems from our Protestant freedom to criticise religion. The Protestant religion is rooted in protest and should not be criminalised.
So what does schedule ten of the Bill actually say?
Simply, it inserts the words "or religious" into the existing law on inciting racial hatred.
The new incitement to religious hatred offence would mirror the effect of the inciting to racial hatred offence.
Therefore, as it is practically impossible to speak about race in Britain today, so it will eventually be almost impossible to speak about religion as a result of the new law. Judges could find themselves persecuting Jesus Christ and letting Barabbas go free - metaphorically speaking, of course.
Also a problem for Bible preachers like me is that they would be trying to defend their Biblical beliefs in the courts while being prosecuted under the race act.
Even if the preacher succeeds in answering the criminal charge regarding a religious dispute in the courts, the result will be that his years of constructive work among the ethnic community will be ruined because the public, including the ethnic community, will remember the references in the press to racism.
The new crime of being "likely to stir up religious hatred" uses the same words as the existing "likely to stir up racial hatred" law.
The proposal defines "religious hatred" to mean hatred against a group of persons defined by reference to religious belief to lack of religious belief.
The Prime Minister's office in Downing Street now claims that the proposed new law "will not prevent criticism of a religion or their adherents".
I ask, if that really is the case then why is it not clearly stated in the words of the legislation?
Unfortunately, once this new criminal offence becomes law no amount of assurance by politicians will really matter. It is then in the hands of the courts.
Judges are charged with applying the law as it is drafted. According to a barrister's opinion I have been given, this law as currently proposed is wide open to broad Draconian interpretation.
In summary, you can be guilty of religious incitement if your words are deemed insulting and there is a likelihood that at least one person is likely to feel intense dislike as a result.
The Government will require that the Attorney General will have to approve of a prosecution but I think they are putting the Attorney General in the position of Pontius Pilate.
Because the wording of the existing race law is properly effective, once the Attorney General washes his hands of setting the innocent free, in response to the demands of the mob, it will almost be certain that the Bible preacher will become a criminal with the prospect of regular and long periods in jail.
Under this new law, if a Protestant speaks against the clearly stated "World Power" objectives of the Roman Catholic Institution or Islam, the Protestant could be jailed for seven years.
Even the Home Office has confirmed that the Bible will not be exempt from the religious hatred legislation. Protestant Christians are shocked that teaching from their Bible could be censored, banned and made illegal.
The Government is going to stifle debate like the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The Government's recent slogan is Britain Forward Not Back.
But this new law would take us back to the Dark Ages. The Government is enacting its own 'inquisition' back into Britain.
Any Government that would make you a criminal for publicly expressing opposition to totalitarian religion should be removed from power at the earliest opportunity.
My parents did not fight both Hitler and Communism for our religious freedom to be removed by any form of Government that is careless with our basic human rights.
As a Bible-believing, evangelical Protestant, I don't hate anyone.
I am commanded by my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to love even my enemies.
Jesus also commands us to share our beliefs with others. I'd be willing to give my life for this let alone go to jail.