Lord Waddington has been championing free speech in England for people who do not hold the politically correct pro-gay ideological view and want to speak into the public discourse concerning the topic of homosexuality. Some were saying that there is a tolerance for free speech but many who do not hold a pro-gay view were being harassed and intimidated into silence.
Last Monday Lord Waddington wrote the Times Online:
Some might say it (his free speech ammendment) is so moderate that it merely states the obvious and is therefore unnecessary. But those who say that are closing their eyes to what is happening. Police officers, pressurised by diversity training and furnished with guidance from the Home Office and the Crown Prosecution Service, seem to feel duty bound to come down like a ton of bricks on people who express disagreement with the behaviour of some gay rights activists, and members of the public are left feeling harassed and frightened. The recent case of the Christian grandmother interrogated in her living room about a letter she wrote to her local council is just the latest example. The politically motivated trampling of free speech is something that should concern us all. It is the duty of Parliament to try to prevent this from continuing to happen.
Lord Waddington
David Taylor, MP
Westminster, SW1
Since then the vote has happened and the Christian Institute has responded:
It means the Government’s sexual orientation hatred law includes a protection for the free speech of those who wish to express their beliefs on sexual conduct.
Simon Calvert, Deputy Director (Public Affairs) at The Christian Institute, called it a “victory for common sense”.
He said: “After many well known cases involving heavy handed policing of Christians, Parliament has decided to protect free speech.
“The free speech clause simply makes clear that which the Government has always accepted – that criticism of homosexual conduct is not, in itself, a crime.
“Surely that is a reasonable safeguard in any democratic society that cares about freedom of expression. This is a victory for common sense.”
via Video: free speech win in gay hate law | News | The Christian Institute.
Last spring I visited a London to go to a conference held by True Freedom Trust which has a similar ministry as Exodus. I went simplsy to listen, learn and fellowship. I did not ask any political questions but one day at lunch I was shocked at the number of people sharing how they had been persecuted at work and in general for their own testimonies.
They weren’t the stereotypical bible thumpers by any stretch of the imagination and yet some , when asked by others for their opinion, these humble folk were run off from their job or put on probation/suspension (in their work setting) for holding to a biblical view of sexuality. One man deleted his blog, which was anonymous to begin with, out of fear that the government might harass him and he would lose his job.
It wasn’t just about a Christian who had never had a gay thought in their lives talking with a gay person at work. These were same sex attracted Christians (in the past or current) talking about their own views for their own lives and biblical sexuality in general.
It would be good to emphasize that freedom of speech also has great responsibility. For Christians it is a very high responsbility because the scriptures are very clear that every word we speak matters to God.
Given the hard line dogmatic approach of some gay or pro-gay politicians/activists, it is important to speak out of honesty, integrity, clearly and directly. Informed by truth, contextualized by grace and empowered by love for those who have no interest in loving you back. While this is a “win” for this public policy battle, remember, we aren’t called to “win.” We are called to be faithful.
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Sidenote – the picture is of Christine Sneeringer, Director of Worthy Creations in Ft. Lauderdale, and me in London.
About Randy Thomas
Thanks for posting this Randy. Over the last fortnight I have been at a debate at Durham University, training potential vicars in the South West of England, and helping students with documentaries for the degrees. At Durham I was called homophobic for producing the science that homosexuality is not caused by genetics and the homosexual lifestyle is not healthy. At the “evangelical” theological college one professor of ethics found my story of change and the use of science questionable, while during one of the filming sessions (in a cafe) the person at the next table kept listening to what I was saying and looking at me as if she was angry with what I was saying. One of the students identifies himself as gay and wasn’t insulted by what I said and actually told me that I had made him think about his situation. If Lord Waddington’s clause had been removed I could easily have been arrested for homophobic hatred, and many people are afraid to speak out incase the law is changed.
Worse is yet to come. Now every EU nation has signed the Lisbon Treaty a law is coming in concerning harrasment. Put simply people can sue us for our comments being harrasment and the onus is on us to prove that the person wasn’t harrased by our comments.
That’s incredible Phelim. Thank you for adding your firsthand account. It is amazing to me that England is in the state it is in (over this) and America is quickly coming up alongside.
Thanks for posting this Randy. Over the last fortnight I have been at a debate at Durham University, training potential vicars in the South West of England, and helping students with documentaries for the degrees. At Durham I was called homophobic for producing the science that homosexuality is not caused by genetics and the homosexual lifestyle is not healthy. At the “evangelical” theological college one professor of ethics found my story of change and the use of science questionable, while during one of the filming sessions (in a cafe) the person at the next table kept listening to what I was saying and looking at me as if she was angry with what I was saying. One of the students identifies himself as gay and wasn’t insulted by what I said and actually told me that I had made him think about his situation. If Lord Waddington’s clause had been removed I could easily have been arrested for homophobic hatred, and many people are afraid to speak out incase the law is changed.
Worse is yet to come. Now every EU nation has signed the Lisbon Treaty a law is coming in concerning harrasment. Put simply people can sue us for our comments being harrasment and the onus is on us to prove that the person wasn’t harrased by our comments.
That’s incredible Phelim. Thank you for adding your firsthand account. It is amazing to me that England is in the state it is in (over this) and America is quickly coming up alongside.
Yes, this certainly is good news. No-one should be victimized or discriminated at work for his or her beliefs, however eccentric.
Some very similar good news this week also from the UK:
“Spiritualist sacked by police wins ruling over his faith in psychics
“A police trainer sacked for saying that psychics should be used to solve crimes must have his views respected as a religious faith, a judge ruled yesterday.
“Alan Power, 62, claims that he was forced out of his job because he is a spiritualist who believes that the souls of the dead can be contacted.”
See: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article6914978.ece
Yes, this certainly is good news. No-one should be victimized or discriminated at work for his or her beliefs, however eccentric.
Some very similar good news this week also from the UK:
“Spiritualist sacked by police wins ruling over his faith in psychics
“A police trainer sacked for saying that psychics should be used to solve crimes must have his views respected as a religious faith, a judge ruled yesterday.
“Alan Power, 62, claims that he was forced out of his job because he is a spiritualist who believes that the souls of the dead can be contacted.”
See: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article6914978.ece
Great piece…thanks for the information, Randy. I love how you ended the article: we’re not called to win (Christ is Victor already), but to be faithful. That is an encouraging message to this wounded mom’s heart.
Great piece…thanks for the information, Randy. I love how you ended the article: we’re not called to win (Christ is Victor already), but to be faithful. That is an encouraging message to this wounded mom’s heart.