Scott
Puritan Board Graduate
Note from Alliance Defense Fund:
A Call to Prayer: Swedish Pastor Faces PRISON for So-Called "œHate Speech" in Sermon"¦
Today, I am asking believers around to world to join me in praying for the trial of Swedish Pastor Ake Green (left) before the Swedish Supreme Court this Wednesday, November 9th. Pastor Green has been charged with committing a "œhate crime" for preaching a sermon which presented the biblical position on homosexual behavior. (At ADF, we are suspending all work for a few minutes to pray for Pastor Green).
Unfortunately, this "œremote" case "“ on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean "“ may directly impact you and your church "“ much sooner than you think!
Pastor Green preached a sermon in his small church in Borgholm, Sweden, in which he discussed what the Bible has to say about homosexual behavior. His sermon (which can be read at: www.akegreen.com/sermon_transcript.htm) concluded with a strong message of God´s grace and love for those trapped in sexual confusion. He said: "œWhat these people need, who live under the slavery of sexual immorality, is an abundant grace. It exists. Therefore we will encourage those who live in this matter to look at the grace of Jesus Christ. We cannot condemn these people. Jesus never belittled anyone. He offered them grace."
The sermon was published in a local newspaper and very shortly thereafter Pastor Green was prosecuted under Sweden´s "œhate crime" law for "œcausing offense" to the homosexual community. The prosecutor, Kjell Yngvesson, said: "œOne may have whatever religion one wishes, but this is an attack on all fronts against homosexuals. Collecting Bible citations on this topic as he does makes this hate speech."
On June 29, 2004, Pastor Green was sentenced by a district court to one month´s imprisonment for his sermon. Soren Andersson, the president of the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights, said that Green´s jail sentence demonstrated that religious freedom could never be used as a reason to "œoffend people."
A spokesperson for another national "œgay and lesbian" association added: "œHatred and defamation is not to be accepted, just because it´s based on religious beliefs or religious scriptures. You have some limits when it comes to freedom of speech."
On February 11, 2005, the Gota Court of Appeals overturned his conviction (the prosecution was now calling for six months in prison), ruling that Sweden´s free speech laws protected him from prosecution. They stated that Pastor Green had a right to preach about "œthe Bible´s categorical condemnation of homosexual relations as sin," even if such views were "œalien to most citizens." For more information on the case, see the following article: www.cbn.com/cbnnews/news/050510f.asp?.
Nevertheless, the prosecutor and Swedish advocates of homosexual behavior have not given up, and have appealed this ruling to the Swedish Supreme Court.
THIS CASE IS PERHAPS THE MOST STRIKING EXAMPLE YET THAT "œTHE PRETENSE OF TOLERANCE IS OVER" "“ "œTOLERANCE" OF THE HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA MEANS THE SILENCING AND PUNISHMENT OF THOSE WHO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL.
Evangelical, Bible-believing Protestant Christian ministers and leaders (especially those who address national audiences like ADF founders Dr. James Dobson and Dr. D. James Kennedy), conservative Catholic bishops and priests, Orthodox Jewish rabbis "“ all are in peril if Pastor Green is convicted and sentenced to jail.
We have already seen the means radical advocates of homosexual behavior just north of our border in Canada will go to in order to intimidate and silence Christians. C-250, the country´s new "œhate crimes" law, reads: "œEveryone who, by communicating statements, other than in private conversation, willfully promotes hatred against any identifiable group is guilty of"¦an indictable offense and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years." The law specifically states that those who practice homosexual behavior are an "œidentifiable" group.
The bill´s author, homosexual Canadian legislator Svend Robinson said he hoped his measure would make "œthe current use of homophobic pejoratives in public schools and in public places socially and criminally reprehensible."
Even before C-250 was passed, a Christian mayor in London, Ontario, was fined $10,000 for refusing to proclaim "œGay Pride Day;" a Christian businessman in Toronto who refused to print materials for a group advocating homosexual behavior was fined $5,000; a man who placed an ad in a Saskatchewan newspaper with biblical references to homosexual behavior was fined $1,500; and a British Columbia teacher was suspended for a month for letters he wrote to a local newspaper that said homosexuality was not a "œfixed position" and could be treated.
With the ACLU and its allies who advocate homosexual behavior, and six current U.S. Supreme Court justices (until Justice O´Connor´s replacement is confirmed) all demanding, and using international law as precedent in American courts, this case matters to every believing Christian and Orthodox Jewish person in America!
If the ACLU and its radical activist allies have their way, the laws of Europe will soon be the laws of America. Some of the first steps have already been achieved in the Supreme Court´s 2003 Lawrence v. Texas decision which struck down state sodomy laws based in part upon a European Court of Human Rights decision. ADF has been a leader in responding to the
threat of international law and many of you are well aware of how far this train has already gone down the tracks.
For more information on the danger of international law in American courts, along with chilling statements from several of the six sitting Supreme Court justices, the ACLU, and other radical activists, go to www.telladf.org/issues/re...?cid=3234. To read more about the ACLU´s international law agenda, you can order our new book, The ACLU vs. America at www.acluvsamerica.com. For more information on the homosexual agenda and its threat to religious freedom, you can order our earlier book, "The Homosexual Agenda: The Principal Threat to Religious Freedom Today" at www.telladf.org/issues/tr...?cid=3480.
Pastor Green´s case is so important to the mission of ADF that we sent our highly experienced Chief Counsel Benjamin Bull (who founded and served for a number of years as director of a Europe-wide religious liberties legal organization based in Strasburg, France) to assist as possible with preparing for this week's events.
Ben will be meeting with Pastor Green´s trial counsel to discuss the oral argument, as well as with several international Christian human rights groups in Europe, such as CARE Trust and Christian Lawyers Fellowship in Great Britain to generate further support for Pastor Green. He has previously met with Pastor Green in Geneva and counseled him with regard to international law and his rights.
ADF has also coordinated and funded the filing of friend-of-the-court briefs on behalf of ADF, Focus on the Family, and the Family Research Council, as well as the translation of the trial transcript into English, so English speaking people around the world could read about what was happening to Pastor Green. Numerous international groups have used these ADF transcripts to prepare their friend-of-the-court briefs on Green´s behalf.
Despite the overwhelming case load and demands on ADF´s growing, but still far too small legal team, God, through His abundant grace, has blessed us with so many incredible victories. We have been able, with His strength and guidance, to hold the line in defense of religious freedom, against the relentless attack from advocates of homosexual behavior and others who seek to silence people of faith and impose their secular sexual agenda on our nation on many fronts.
We must and will work, as long as God enables us, to stem the tide of internationalism, and defend the right to hear and speak the Truth, despite the extremely well-funded and mobilized forces that seek to bar its message of love and grace, not only from America but worldwide.
Thank you for standing with us and for praying for this critical case that may seem so remote. For a generation, the opponents of the Gospel advanced in seeming silence as the Body of Christ was AWOL. Pastor Ake Green "“ though across an ocean "“ does not stand alone on Wednesday because of you. I am confident, that if we remain on our knees and seek His face (John 15:5), we will WIN.
A Call to Prayer: Swedish Pastor Faces PRISON for So-Called "œHate Speech" in Sermon"¦
Today, I am asking believers around to world to join me in praying for the trial of Swedish Pastor Ake Green (left) before the Swedish Supreme Court this Wednesday, November 9th. Pastor Green has been charged with committing a "œhate crime" for preaching a sermon which presented the biblical position on homosexual behavior. (At ADF, we are suspending all work for a few minutes to pray for Pastor Green).
Unfortunately, this "œremote" case "“ on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean "“ may directly impact you and your church "“ much sooner than you think!
Pastor Green preached a sermon in his small church in Borgholm, Sweden, in which he discussed what the Bible has to say about homosexual behavior. His sermon (which can be read at: www.akegreen.com/sermon_transcript.htm) concluded with a strong message of God´s grace and love for those trapped in sexual confusion. He said: "œWhat these people need, who live under the slavery of sexual immorality, is an abundant grace. It exists. Therefore we will encourage those who live in this matter to look at the grace of Jesus Christ. We cannot condemn these people. Jesus never belittled anyone. He offered them grace."
The sermon was published in a local newspaper and very shortly thereafter Pastor Green was prosecuted under Sweden´s "œhate crime" law for "œcausing offense" to the homosexual community. The prosecutor, Kjell Yngvesson, said: "œOne may have whatever religion one wishes, but this is an attack on all fronts against homosexuals. Collecting Bible citations on this topic as he does makes this hate speech."
On June 29, 2004, Pastor Green was sentenced by a district court to one month´s imprisonment for his sermon. Soren Andersson, the president of the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights, said that Green´s jail sentence demonstrated that religious freedom could never be used as a reason to "œoffend people."
A spokesperson for another national "œgay and lesbian" association added: "œHatred and defamation is not to be accepted, just because it´s based on religious beliefs or religious scriptures. You have some limits when it comes to freedom of speech."
On February 11, 2005, the Gota Court of Appeals overturned his conviction (the prosecution was now calling for six months in prison), ruling that Sweden´s free speech laws protected him from prosecution. They stated that Pastor Green had a right to preach about "œthe Bible´s categorical condemnation of homosexual relations as sin," even if such views were "œalien to most citizens." For more information on the case, see the following article: www.cbn.com/cbnnews/news/050510f.asp?.
Nevertheless, the prosecutor and Swedish advocates of homosexual behavior have not given up, and have appealed this ruling to the Swedish Supreme Court.
THIS CASE IS PERHAPS THE MOST STRIKING EXAMPLE YET THAT "œTHE PRETENSE OF TOLERANCE IS OVER" "“ "œTOLERANCE" OF THE HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA MEANS THE SILENCING AND PUNISHMENT OF THOSE WHO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL.
Evangelical, Bible-believing Protestant Christian ministers and leaders (especially those who address national audiences like ADF founders Dr. James Dobson and Dr. D. James Kennedy), conservative Catholic bishops and priests, Orthodox Jewish rabbis "“ all are in peril if Pastor Green is convicted and sentenced to jail.
We have already seen the means radical advocates of homosexual behavior just north of our border in Canada will go to in order to intimidate and silence Christians. C-250, the country´s new "œhate crimes" law, reads: "œEveryone who, by communicating statements, other than in private conversation, willfully promotes hatred against any identifiable group is guilty of"¦an indictable offense and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years." The law specifically states that those who practice homosexual behavior are an "œidentifiable" group.
The bill´s author, homosexual Canadian legislator Svend Robinson said he hoped his measure would make "œthe current use of homophobic pejoratives in public schools and in public places socially and criminally reprehensible."
Even before C-250 was passed, a Christian mayor in London, Ontario, was fined $10,000 for refusing to proclaim "œGay Pride Day;" a Christian businessman in Toronto who refused to print materials for a group advocating homosexual behavior was fined $5,000; a man who placed an ad in a Saskatchewan newspaper with biblical references to homosexual behavior was fined $1,500; and a British Columbia teacher was suspended for a month for letters he wrote to a local newspaper that said homosexuality was not a "œfixed position" and could be treated.
With the ACLU and its allies who advocate homosexual behavior, and six current U.S. Supreme Court justices (until Justice O´Connor´s replacement is confirmed) all demanding, and using international law as precedent in American courts, this case matters to every believing Christian and Orthodox Jewish person in America!
If the ACLU and its radical activist allies have their way, the laws of Europe will soon be the laws of America. Some of the first steps have already been achieved in the Supreme Court´s 2003 Lawrence v. Texas decision which struck down state sodomy laws based in part upon a European Court of Human Rights decision. ADF has been a leader in responding to the
threat of international law and many of you are well aware of how far this train has already gone down the tracks.
For more information on the danger of international law in American courts, along with chilling statements from several of the six sitting Supreme Court justices, the ACLU, and other radical activists, go to www.telladf.org/issues/re...?cid=3234. To read more about the ACLU´s international law agenda, you can order our new book, The ACLU vs. America at www.acluvsamerica.com. For more information on the homosexual agenda and its threat to religious freedom, you can order our earlier book, "The Homosexual Agenda: The Principal Threat to Religious Freedom Today" at www.telladf.org/issues/tr...?cid=3480.
Pastor Green´s case is so important to the mission of ADF that we sent our highly experienced Chief Counsel Benjamin Bull (who founded and served for a number of years as director of a Europe-wide religious liberties legal organization based in Strasburg, France) to assist as possible with preparing for this week's events.
Ben will be meeting with Pastor Green´s trial counsel to discuss the oral argument, as well as with several international Christian human rights groups in Europe, such as CARE Trust and Christian Lawyers Fellowship in Great Britain to generate further support for Pastor Green. He has previously met with Pastor Green in Geneva and counseled him with regard to international law and his rights.
ADF has also coordinated and funded the filing of friend-of-the-court briefs on behalf of ADF, Focus on the Family, and the Family Research Council, as well as the translation of the trial transcript into English, so English speaking people around the world could read about what was happening to Pastor Green. Numerous international groups have used these ADF transcripts to prepare their friend-of-the-court briefs on Green´s behalf.
Despite the overwhelming case load and demands on ADF´s growing, but still far too small legal team, God, through His abundant grace, has blessed us with so many incredible victories. We have been able, with His strength and guidance, to hold the line in defense of religious freedom, against the relentless attack from advocates of homosexual behavior and others who seek to silence people of faith and impose their secular sexual agenda on our nation on many fronts.
We must and will work, as long as God enables us, to stem the tide of internationalism, and defend the right to hear and speak the Truth, despite the extremely well-funded and mobilized forces that seek to bar its message of love and grace, not only from America but worldwide.
Thank you for standing with us and for praying for this critical case that may seem so remote. For a generation, the opponents of the Gospel advanced in seeming silence as the Body of Christ was AWOL. Pastor Ake Green "“ though across an ocean "“ does not stand alone on Wednesday because of you. I am confident, that if we remain on our knees and seek His face (John 15:5), we will WIN.