Christian preacher arrested for saying homosexuality is a sin

[Amelia]

Christian preacher arrested for saying homosexuality is a sin

A Christian street preacher was arrested and locked in a cell for telling a passer-by that homosexuality is a sin in the eyes of God.

By Heidi Blake

02 May 2010

TELEGRAPH.CO.UK

Dale McAlpine was charged with causing “harassment, alarm or distress” after a homosexual police community support officer (PCSO) overheard him reciting a number of “sins” referred to in the Bible, including blasphemy, drunkenness and same sex relationships.

The 42-year-old Baptist, who has preached Christianity in Workington, Cumbria for years, said he did not mention homosexuality while delivering a sermon from the top of a stepladder, but admitted telling a passing shopper that he believed it went against the word of God.

Police officers are alleging that he made the remark in a voice loud enough to be overheard by others and have charged him with using abusive or insulting language, contrary to the Public Order Act.

Mr McAlpine, who was taken to the police station in the back of a marked van and locked in a cell for seven hours on April 20, said the incident was among the worst experiences of his life.

“I felt deeply shocked and humiliated that I had been arrested in my own town and treated like a common criminal in front of people I know," he said.

“My freedom was taken away on the hearsay of someone who disliked what I said, and I was charged under a law that doesn't apply.”

Christian campaigners have expressed alarm that the Public Order Act, introduced in 1986 to tackle violent rioters and football hooligans, is being used to curb religious free speech.

Sam Webster, a solicitor-advocate for the Christian Institute, which is supporting Mr McAlpine, said it is not a crime to express the belief that homosexual conduct is a sin.

“The police have a duty to maintain public order but they also have a duty to defend the lawful free speech of citizens,” he said.

“Case law has ruled that the orthodox Christian belief that homosexual conduct is sinful is a belief worthy of respect in a democratic society."

Mr McAlpine was handing out leaflets explaining the Ten Commandments or offering a “ticket to heaven” with a church colleague on April 20, when a woman came up and engaged him in a debate about his faith.

During the exchange, he says he quietly listed homosexuality among a number of sins referred to in 1 Corinthians, including blasphemy, fornication, adultery and drunkenness.

After the woman walked away, she was approached by a PCSO who spoke with her briefly and then walked over to Mr McAlpine and told him a complaint had been made, and that he could be arrested for using racist or homophobic language.

The street preacher said he told the PCSO: “I am not homophobic but sometimes I do say that the Bible says homosexuality is a crime against the Creator”.

He claims that the PCSO then said he was homosexual and identified himself as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender liaison officer for Cumbria police. Mr McAlpine replied: “It’s still a sin.”

The preacher then began a 20 minute sermon, in which he says he mentioned drunkenness and adultery, but not homosexuality. Three regular uniformed police officers arrived during the address, arrested Mr McAlpine and put him in the back of a police van.

At the station, he was told to empty his pockets and his mobile telephone, belt and shoes were confiscated. Police took fingerprints, a palm print, a retina scan and a DNA swab.

He was later interviewed, charged under Sections 5 (1) and (6) of the Public Order Act and released on bail on the condition that he did not preach in public.

Mr McAlpine pleaded not guilty at a preliminary hearing on Friday at Wokingham magistrates court and is now awaiting a trial date.

The Public Order Act, which outlaws the unreasonable use of abusive language likely to cause distress, has been used to arrest religious people in a number of similar cases.

Harry Hammond, a pensioner, was convicted under Section 5 of the Act in 2002 for holding up a sign saying “Stop immorality. Stop Homosexuality. Stop Lesbianism. Jesus is Lord” while preaching in Bournemouth.

Stephen Green, a Christian campaigner, was arrested and charged in 2006 for handing out religious leaflets at a Gay Pride festival in Cardiff. The case against him was later dropped.

Cumbria police said last night that no one was available to comment on Mr McAlpine’s case.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopi...y-is-a-sin.html

[John317]

Very interesting. I'm not surprised. England has no Bill Right protecting free speech the way the US does, nor does Canada (as far as I know); but I have a feeling we may eventually begin to see some of the same kinds of things even in America.

The following lines are ones that particularly caught my attention:

Quote:

He was later interviewed, charged under Sections 5 (1) and (6) of the Public Order Act and released on bail on the condition that he did not preach in public.

....The Public Order Act, which outlaws the unreasonable use of abusive language likely to cause distress, has been used to arrest religious people in a number of similar cases.

Harry Hammond, a pensioner, was convicted under Section 5 of the Act in 2002 for holding up a sign saying “Stop immorality. Stop Homosexuality. Stop Lesbianism. Jesus is Lord” while preaching in Bournemouth.

Stephen Green, a Christian campaigner, was arrested and charged in 2006 for handing out religious leaflets at a Gay Pride festival in Cardiff. The case against him was later dropped.

Anyone think society isn't changing in its attitude about these issues? Not too long ago, I never would have thought those things ever would have happened-- or even been able to be imagined. The time may come in England and else where when it will be considered a crime to refuse to hire someone as a pastor based on his practice of homosexuality. I hope I'm totally wrong.

[lazarus]

Very interesting. I'm not surprised. England has no Bill Right protecting free speech the way the US does, nor does Canada (as far as I know);

Come on, do really believe the bill of rights makes a difference when a cop wants to arrest you. Street preachers get arrested all the time. Here are three examples of three street preachers getting arrested. Can you guess what country they were preaching in. It was not the UK.

-- Three men who call themselves street preachers found themselves in trouble with the law in Maryville over the weekend.

Police say Jeremy Burt, 21, Jay Bryant, 28, and Wallace Scott Langford, 49, were holding religious signs and yelling at passing cars Saturday in the median at West Broadway and West Lamar Alexander Parkway.

Police arrested and charged Burt and Bryant with disorderly conduct.

- - David Bane and Josh Glidewell were arrested on Friday night. We were preaching and holding gospel signs. I was accompanied by Josh Glidewell, who was also holding signs and preaching.

According to the arresting officer, they were arrested for "saying things that made people feel uncomfortable"

- - Chris Pettigrew and Pastor Billy Ball and of Faith Baptist Church, were arrested multiple times Aug 24 after they held signs on a public street corner telling people to repent and declaring homosexuality a sin.

[BobRyan]

Come on, do really believe the bill of rights makes a difference when a cop wants to arrest you. Street preachers get arrested all the time. Here are three examples of three street preachers getting arrested. Can you guess what country they were preaching in. It was not the UK.

-- Three men who call themselves street preachers found themselves in trouble with the law in Maryville over the weekend.

Police say Jeremy Burt, 21, Jay Bryant, 28, and Wallace Scott Langford, 49, were holding religious signs and yelling at passing cars Saturday in the median at West Broadway and West Lamar Alexander Parkway.

Police arrested and charged Burt and Bryant with disorderly conduct.

[lazarus]

Ok - on the one hand we have "standing in the median and yelling at passing cars". (which would be the "crime" they are charged with - having nothing to do with what they were saying while yelling).

All three were cited for demonstrating without a permit.

In the UK arrest the fact that the officer was homosexual may have had more to do with it than anything else. The officer spoke to a woman who told him that the preacher had mentioned homosexuality.

Bill of rights makes no difference, sorry folks.

[lazarus]

I think UK officers are learning from police in the US.

A street preacher is accusing police of violating his constitutional rights after officers arrested him for not having a parade permit while he spoke out against homosexuality on a public sidewalk in Manchester, Ga.

Chris Pettigrew and Pastor Billy Ball and of Faith Baptist Church in Primrose, Ga., were arrested multiple times Aug 24 after they held signs on a public street corner telling people to repent and declaring homosexuality a sin.

They held signs that stated:

* Repent ye, and believe the gospel. Mark 1:15

* The sodomite lifestyle produces vile affections, ungodly lust, reprobates

* Repent or burn

* Three gay rights: AIDS, hell, salvation

"There were four of us to begin with. We weren't preaching with any amplified sound," Pettigrew told WND. "Basically, as soon as we got out of the cars and started toward the sidewalk, Manchester city police officers showed up and asked us if we had a parade permit."

He continued, "We did not have a parade permit, and we informed them that we had no plans for obtaining a parade permit because we weren't in a parade."

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.printable&pageId=108049.

To suggest this has anything to do with socialism, health care is bizarre at best. US and UK cops have been doing this kind of thing for years.

Didn't US cops a have a problem with a bunch of folk marching for voting rights etc. Where was the bill of rights then?

[olger]

OK.

It still is a sin.

next please,

g

[Bravus]

Seems to me there are about a million other worthwhile things to preach about, though. What proportion of the whole Bible are condemnations of homosexuality? Miniscule. Preaching God's love, Jesus' sacrifice and salvation... against these things there is no law.

[BSW]

To preach what we cannot do, will rarely win the heart (it's a great fear factor though!). What I try to "preach" is what I can do!

When will we learn as Christians that it's not what we do, but who controls our mind. The devil is just an instigator; he has no power except what we give him. Only Christ (as a Christian) can give us the Holy Spirit which if meekly followed WILL lead us to a righeous life, which is VERY attractive.

So if you find yourself unsuccessful in your ability to witness, be willing to "soften" your approach. Even the judgement message, though sobering, should always be given with humility and unconditional loving tenderness.

In my understanding.

[John317]

Quote:

John317: Very interesting. I'm not surprised. England has no Bill Right protecting free speech the way the US does, nor does Canada (as far as I know);

Quote:

lazarus:Come on, do really believe the bill of rights makes a difference when a cop wants to arrest you. Street preachers get arrested all the time.

I'm not talking so much about the arrest as the judgment and sentencing by the court. I was unjustly arrested by cops once in West Palm Beach, Florida, but the next morning the Judge merely said she knew the facts of the case and that I was free to go. It was really a false arrest. The police who arrested me were simply angry that I told them it wasn't their business to ask me where I had spent the night of the day before, and so they charged me with vagrancy, even though I had a job there. The judge agreed and gave the arresting officers a "tongue-lashing."

So, yes, while the Bill of Rights doesn't protect us from arrest by rogue cops, it does definitely affect what the courts do about the arrest-- (thank God, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson).

Those amendments protect us so that if anyone wants to exercise their God-given right to go out on the street corner in America and teach all that the Bible says (including its condemnation of homosexual practices), they can do it, providing they aren't causing a riot or blocking traffic, etc. And that was my point. :-)

We only have them because people like James Madison and Thomas Jefferson insisted on them. The Federalist Party was against them.

Our government was wise enough to put them in our US Constitution. But we know from prophecy that we won't have them forever, and it seems to me we might be starting to move in that direction.

Does Canada or Britain have constitutional guarantees of these same rights? They do have some of them, anyway. I know that our Bill of Rights, written by Madison, was partly influenced by English law and philosophy, so that is one more reason for us to be grateful to our mother country.

Quote:

The Bill of Rights is the name by which the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution are known. The Bill of Rights prohibits Congress from making any law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, guarantees free speech, free press, free assembly and association and the right to petition government for redress, forbids infringement of "...the right of the people to keep and bear Arms...", and prohibits the federal government from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.

[John317]

I don't agree with a lot of those signs and even some of the speech, but I believe people ought to have the freedom to say anything they want to, with very few, common-sense exceptions. The one thing everyone should particularly have a right to do is to say things most people don't like or agree with. :-)