Memorandum submitted by John W Young (CJ&I 148)

 

Dear Members of the Committee,

           

                  I feel it incumbent upon me to write to you to express my serious concern in connection with this proposed contentious legislation.

                       

                        For Christians the intention within this Reading is cause for great concern as it seeks to extend the existing laws against racial hatred to cover 'inciting hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation' which if transgressed against would mean a maximum 7-year prison sentence. We have opposed a religious hatred law because of the dangers to free speech and such a homophobic hatred law is opposed for the same reason. I will risk encroaching on your patience with a few pertinent points regarding this issue in the hope it will clarify the reasons why such legislation is unnecessary and damaging to our long held cherished rights to freedom of speech.

 

                        Orthodox Christian belief has held for centuries that homosexual practice is sinful and moreover ALL other major world religions hold the same position. It is roundly condemned in 'The Word of God' (Romans Chapter 1 verses 26-27: 1 Corinthians 6 v 9: et al). It is therefore imperative that Christians should be able to helpfully and 'lovingly' freely warn others of the sinfulness of such action and the dangers of offending God in such a way and incurring  punishment for so doing without the threat of legal sanctions.

 

                        Such a law is not necessary as it is already a criminal offence to intimidate or attack anyone. Inciting a crime against another person is also outlawed. It was deemed to be wrong to introduce a religious hatred law because of the threat to free speech and for the same reason it would be wrong to bring in a homosexual hatred law. The mere threat of prosecution would cause many well meaning people to keep quiet which is a more subtle but equally dangerous threat to freedom of speech. Christians do not 'hate' homosexuals as people, (though they are wrongly portrayed as doing so), but are under a moral duty to love them and in so doing point out the Biblical injunction that such practice is wrong and offensive to a Holy God. How tragic it would be if a Sunday morning preacher being true to his God is prosecuted and imprisoned for lovingly warning that homosexual practice is wrong.

 

                        Already Gay Rights activists have many times used malicious complaints to the police in order to silence opponents and caused police to wrongly investigate Christians without a 'gay hatred crime' yet being in existence.

 

                        Forgive my encroachment of your time but in common with all sincere Christians I find the current proposals extraordinarily sinister and I do hope that you will share my thoughts sufficiently to see your way to opposing and voting against such legislation.

                                

October 2007