Memorandum submitted by Arthur Brown (CJ&I 158)

 

Dear Members of the Committee,

 

I am writing to express my deep concern about the proposed amendment to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill, which would make it a criminal offence to 'incite hatred on the grounds of sexuality'.

 

As a committed Christian I firmly believe that we should love and show love to all people, irrespective of their lifestyle, beliefs and sexual practices. However, I also feel that the introduction of this proposed law is ill advised and poses a considerable danger to freedom of speech and freedom of religion in our nation.

 

May I draw your attention to the following points:-

 

a. The law is unnecessary. All people are protected from assault and threatening words or behaviour under the current criminal law.

 

b. Although Christians do not hate homosexuals but are commanded to love them, they are instructed in the bible to hate sin. The bible is also clear that God intended sex to be kept in a marriage relationship       between one man and one woman. Many people may find such teaching offensive. They may even find it threatening. But it is an orthodox belief of the Christian Church, and the propagation of such teaching         should not be criminalised. Many advocates of free speech would ascribe to the motto 'I disagree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say it'.

 

c. Christians and others are already living in an atmosphere of fear when it comes to being allowed to speak openly about their beliefs regarding sexuality. There have been a number of examples in the media where people have been reported to the police, interviewed by police, taken to court and even prosecuted for speaking openly about sexuality, and have lost their positions at work.

 

A few cases in point:-

1. CHRISTIANS BANNED FROM TEACHING COURSE ON SEXUAL PURITY - Edinburgh University.

Following pressure from a group of students, Edinburgh University banned the University Christian Union from running one of its events on University premises. Pressure is principally coming from the Gay & Lesbian Society at Edinburgh University.

The banned event is a course called PURE, which presents the Biblical basis of personal relationships. The University's decision is based on its belief that PURE is in breach of its equality and diversity policy because PURE claims that any sexual activity outside heterosexual marriage is not God-ordained.

After originally being banned the Christian Union have now been told they can run the Course but that the University should be free to put material representing a different view in the room where they meet. The University is therefore imposing restrictions on their freedom.

Such restrictions are not being imposed on other societies within the University. For example, Lesbian and Gay groups are not being forced to promote Christian views on sexual purity. This case once again highlights how Christianity is being afforded only second-class status, and religious rights are being trumped by rights relating to a homosexual lifestyle.

This case raises issues of freedom of speech in a University environment; where freedom to discuss ideas is central to academic growth. It represents a narrowing of freedoms that will undermine the education of future citizens.

2. HARRY HAMMOND v DPP (A Pensioner prosecuted for preaching Biblical truth on homosexuaity)

At the beginning of 2004, the case of Harry Hammond v DPP came before the High Court. This case involved a 69 year old pensioner with aspergers syndrome, called Mr Hammond, who was arrested for holding a large sign displaying the words "Stop Immorality", "Stop Homosexuality" and "Stop Lesbianism" in Bournemouth city centre. Members of the public attacked him and knocked him to the ground. But he was the one who was arrested by the police and brought before the magistrates whilst his attackers were not even arrested or cautioned.

The magistrates found as a matter of fact that the sign was "insulting" within the meaning of the Public Order Act and he was convicted of a public order offence. The High Court upheld this decision. An attempt was made by the executors of the will of Mr Hammond to have the decision overturned at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg but they declined to consider it because Mr Hammond was no longer alive to bring the appeal.

3. STEPHEN GREEN (A Christian arrested for proclaiming Biblical truth on same-sex relationships)

In the early 1990s Stephen Green was a prominent campaigner against homosexuality through the Conservative Family Campaign, and wrote a book called "The Sexual Dead-End" giving his opinions in detail.

On 2 September 2006, Green was arrested in Cardiff at the city's Mardi Gras for distributing leaflets of an allegedly homophobic nature. The text of the leaflet quotes the Bible at length to support his belief, that whilst same-sex love is not a sin, sexual activity between members of the same sex is.

The leaflet then asserts that sinners can be saved through the death and resurrection of Jesus if they offer a full repentance. On Thursday, 28th September, 2006, the case against Stephen Green was dropped by Cardiff Magistrates Court, as there was no evidence to present against the defendant. Mr. Green is considering a civil action against the Police.

4. CHRISTIAN POLICE ASSOCIATION (Christian Police Officers told that being a Christian will make them prejudiced in carrying out their duties)

The Christian Police Association (CPA) were being challenged by the Gay Police Association (GPA) and are being reported to Head of Human Resources in one of the leading Police Divisions in the county. GPA state CPA should be free to meet but not as an affiliated society because they require members to sign a statement of belief which GPA say is discriminatory. The Initial letter from HR sided with GPA.

GPA say Christian Police Officers are free to believe but there should be limits on their manifestation of belief because their views will make them prejudiced in the way they carry out their official police duties. This is another example of the privatisation of the Christian faith.

Isn't it time to stop saying 'Good' is evil, and that 'evil' is good.

November 2007