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Post by andrewchapman on Sept 10, 2008 11:25:50 GMT -5
Praise the Lord, that's a great victory.
"But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out to the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear." (Philippians 1 vv 12-14)
This has worked out for good. There has been a powerful witness to the authorities, and I am sure that the brethren are emboldened to preach the word of God without fear.
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Post by Michael on Sept 12, 2008 5:13:28 GMT -5
see oawitness.angelfire.com/tony2.html for summary page. The following two articles are from newspapers dated Sept. 11/12, 2008 Bible preacher case is droppedA Whitchurch street preacher taken to court after his Bible sermon offended a passer-by in a city centre will no longer face any charges after the case was dropped today.Anthony Rollins, who was arrested as he preached in Birmingham’s New Street on June 24, had been due to face a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates Court today. But the case against Mr Rollins was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service after being deemed not to be in the public interest. The 43-year-old had denied using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. Mr Rollins, who has been preaching in the city centre for about 12 years, was arrested and led away in handcuffs by police after a member of the public complained about comments he made about homosexuality. Today Mr Rollins, who suffers from Asperger Syndrome, said: “I’ve been preaching the same message for 13 years with no incidents. I’ve always read the same message. I’m not homophobic. I’m only quoting what the word of God says, I’m not a bad man. “The European Union Convention of Human Rights says a man has the right to express his religious beliefs, he has the right to freedom of speech. He has the right to form a public opinion, however contentious that is. My passage mentioned the word ‘effeminate’ and a man took that word and said it was a homophobic comment.” A spokesman for the CPS today said: “When considering whether a case should be prosecuted, the CPS applies the Code for Crown Prosecutors in two parts. These two tests are applied whatever the charge and whoever the potential defendant may be. “The case against Mr Rollins passed both of these two tests and he was charged with using threatening abusive or insulting words or behaviour likely to cause harassment alarm or distress. “On the September 8, 2008, we received some additional information from Mr Rollins’s solicitors and the case was reviewed. A decision was then made to discontinue the prosecution on the basis that it was no longer in the public interest.” By Abigail Bates and Andy Rogers This article was posted on September 11, 2008 at 11:50 am. From www.shropshirestar.com/2008/09/11/bible-preacher-case-is-dropped/
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Post by Michael on Sept 12, 2008 8:13:13 GMT -5
Case dropped against 'anti gay' preacher Tony RollinsSep 12 2008 By Nick McCarthy THE case against a city preacher who was accused of offending gays and lesbians in a street sermon has been dropped. Devout Tony Rollins, aged 43, was due to face a one-day trial after he was arrested near Birmingham’s New Street station in June and charged with public order offences. But the case, due to be heard in front of a district judge at Birmingham Magistrates Court, was discontinued. He has been preaching in New Street for more than 12 years, but was arrested under the Public Order Act. Rollins, from Whitchurch, Shropshire, maintained that he was reading from the Bible. He was arrested after a Birmingham City Council housing officer took offence to his sermon and reported him to police. A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said: “When considering whether a case should be prosecuted, the CPS applies the Code for Crown Prosecutors in two parts. “The first is the evidential test where we have to be satisfied that there is enough admissible evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction. “If the evidence satisfies the first test, then we have to consider the second test – the public interest test. “A prosecution will usually take place unless the public interest factors against prosecution clearly outweigh those in favour of prosecution.“ The case against Mr Rollins originally passed both of the tests and he was charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour likely to cause harassment alarm or distress. But on September 8 additional information was received from Mr Rollins defence solicitors and the case was reviewed. “A decision was then made to discontinue the prosecution on the basis that it was no longer in the public interest to prosecute,” said the spokesman. Mr Rollins told the Mail he was unwilling to comment. He added: “I am waiting for a letter from my solicitor, which explains to me the reasons why the case has been dropped. “Until I read the letter I am unable to comment on the issues. “All I can say is that I was reading from my Bible and expressing my freedom of speech.” From www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2008/09/12/case-dropped-against-anti-gay-preacher-tony-rollins-97319-21804584/
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Post by Michael on Sept 13, 2008 5:52:09 GMT -5
It Can’t Happen Here - Update September 12, 2008 Just received a comment from a fellow church member of Tony Rollins, a Christian in England who was arrested for preaching on the streets. This is the comment that I received : I am in the same congregation as Tony in England. The authorities dropped the case against him 48 hours before his trial. One of the reasons was the volume of mail sent to the public prosecutors arguing that the case was NOT in the public interest. Thanks to all who wrote in. Christians, give thanks to God! Public free speech - by anyone, on any subject - is a vital component of a healthy society. The only limit on it should be that it does not incite violence. Under free speech, if you disagree with what is said then you can make a reply. Or you can ignore it. Laws against “hate speech” suppose that the public are incapable of thinking and replying for themselves, so that they supposedly need protection from Big Brother. But Big Brother then applies those laws selectively against those who disagree with the State. Americans, keep your great country free from such laws! Tony preaches that people must repent of their sins before God, who created them, and that forgiveness is then available through God’s son Jesus Christ. Tony uses scripture to specify what is sinful in God’s eyes, since sin is not well understood today. He is committed to letting people freely accept or reject his preaching without coercion. The laws used against Tony were quite vague but are now being re-interpreted in politically correct ways. That vagueness is why people writing in to complain made a difference. But it is far better to have no vagueness in laws concerning speech. It must be free. There is an intense (spiritual) battle going on today in Western civilisation against basic freedoms. To preserve them you must be prepared to campaign politically. Wherever they are under threat you should write to your local and national representatives, and to people within the justice system, and tell them politely but forcefully where you stand and what you want. Ask them questions to elicit a reply. Persist if you get a bland reply. Tell others to write. (NB written letters are more authoritative than emails.) Never give up. Here are the links to the original posts… praise365.wordpress.com/2008/08/13/it-cant-happen-here/praise365.wordpress.com/2008/08/15/it-cant-happen-here-update/Tony, keep up the good work, God bless !!! From : praise365.wordpress.com/
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Post by Michael on Sept 13, 2008 6:10:51 GMT -5
From ravenhurst-ravenhurst.blogspot.com/A Christian preacher who was arrested and charged with offending gay people during a sermon in a Birmingham street will not face trial. The case against Tony Rollins was discontinued earlier this week at the city's magistrates court. He has been preaching in New Street for 12 years, but was arrested in June after a member of the public complained. Mr Rollins has always claimed he was merely reading from the Bible. A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service told the Birmingham Mail: "When considering whether a case should be prosecuted, the CPS applies the Code for Crown Prosecutors in two parts. "The first is the evidential test where we have to be satisfied that there is enough admissible evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction. If the evidence satisfies the first test, then we have to consider the second test – the public interest test. "A prosecution will usually take place unless the public interest factors against prosecution clearly outweigh those in favour of prosecution. A decision was then made to discontinue the prosecution on the basis that it was no longer in the public interest to prosecute." While public order laws have been used in the past against homophobic preachers, in 2006 Stephen Green did not face prosecution after handing out anti-gay leaflets at Cardiff Mardi Gras. He denied charges that he had used threatening words and behaviour whilst handing out the pamphlets entitled "Same-sex love - same-sex sex: What does the Bible say?" The Crown Prosecution Service announced that it had insufficient evidence to pursue the charges. Christian activist groups such as the Evangelical Alliance have claimed the new law on incitement to hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation will leave them "living in fear of prosecution" for expressing their Bible-inspired beliefs about homosexuality. Incitement to hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation was outlawed as part of the Criminal Justice Act which became law in May. However, an amendment by Tory peer Lord Waddington, a former Home Secretary under Margaret Thatcher, was added to the bill. His amendment to the offence of using threatening language with intent to stir up hatred on grounds of sexual orientation said that urging someone to change their sexuality should not count "of itself" as threatening or as intended to stir up hatred. While he claimed his amendment was about "free speech," in effect it gives people leeway to claim they were just following their religious beliefs when inciting others to hate gay, lesbian or bisexual people. **********
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Post by Michael on Sept 16, 2008 7:02:19 GMT -5
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Post by Michael on Sept 19, 2008 8:23:35 GMT -5
Question For House of Commons re : Tony Rollins Arrest The Freedom Of Speech Amendment was passed on May 7, 2008 . So why was Tony Rollins arrested in Birmingham on June 25, 2008 and went through appalling treatment by the police, courts, and newspapers. Details of the case are found at:- oawitness.angelfire.com/tony2.htmloawitness.angelfire.com/tony3.htmlA Christian associate of ours is trying to get a question asked in the House Of Commons about the new May, 2008 Law. Please pray Michael
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Post by Michael on Nov 22, 2008 10:41:44 GMT -5
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