Pastor Ake Green / Hate Speech in Sermons

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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.
 
EXCLUSIVE FROM STOCKHOLM: PLEASE KEEP PRAYING FOR PASTOR GREEN"¦
Last week, I asked you to pray for Pastor Ake Green, the Swedish pastor facing imprisonment for preaching a sermon on Bible and homosexual behavior. Argued before the Swedish Supreme Court last Wednesday, November 9th, this case has serious ramifications worldwide.

As we told you, ADF sent chief counsel Benjamin Bull to Sweden to assist with last Wednesday´s trial. Unlike U.S. Supreme Court oral argument, this was an actual trial where Pastor Green was called to testify and grilled by the prosecuting attorney.


Ake Green, left, with Benjamin Bull in Stockholm, Sweden. 11.8.2005
© 2005 Alliance Defense Fund

Ben reports:

"œPastor Green´s trial before the Swedish Supreme Court was one of the most remarkable things I´ve ever seen. It was surreal. The case should have been called Sweden v.The Bible. It was like a cross between George Orwell´s 1984 and a Stalin Soviet show trial.

It was hard to believe that this was happening in a "œdeveloped" Western country. The entire case was televised live in Sweden and Parliament stopped to watch the proceedings.

The prosecutor made amazing arguments. He repeatedly mocked the Word of God. He ridiculed Biblical texts on homosexual behavior. The prosecutor asked Pastor Green several times what version of the Bible he was using. When Pastor Green politely replied that he used the New International Version, the prosecutor replied that Pastor Green was using a "˜bad translation´ and to "˜get a new Bible´ "“ one that does not question homosexual behavior. I sat in amazement as a government prosecutor was telling a minister to use another Bible translation. It was like a pastor telling the government that they need to use another law book. This was a case where the state was trying to dictate and reshape theology to fit its own agenda.

The prosecutor demanded that the court convict Pastor Green so he would be an example to deter other pastors from preaching what the Bible says about homosexual behavior. He did concede "“ quite amazingly "“ that it is still legal to publish such Bibles in Sweden (for now). The radical homosexual activists demand that Pastor Green be made an example as the first person to be prosecuted under the "˜hate speech´ law since it added 'sexual orientation' in 2003.


Ake Green addresses the media in Stockholm, Sweden. 11.9.2005
© 2005 Alliance Defense Fund

Throughout the trial, the justices were almost completely silent. Percy Bratt, Pastor Green´s defense attorney "“ whom we helped prepare the day before at a moot court "“ did a fabulous job. He also mentioned the brief that ADF had filed and another we funded on behalf of Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council "“ and the chief justice acknowledged that he had read the brief and found it to be helpful.

All people of faith need to continue to be in prayer for this decision "“ as three out of four people in Sweden (per a poll) believe that Pastor Green should be sent to prison for simply preaching the uncensored Gospel. If Pastor Green is convicted, it will open the floodgates "“ and the same thing will be happening in the United States and Canada "“ sooner than you think. It will be a precedent in international law that pastors can be targeted and prosecuted for engaging in "˜hate crimes´ and we will soon see this cited in American courts. This case must be won and it must be defended."

Please continue to be in prayer for Pastor Green and for this decision "“ which is expected in 3-4 weeks. As soon as we receive word of the outcome from the Swedish Supreme Court, we will let you know. Thank you for your prayers and your support, which have made it possible for ADF and its allies to play an important role in this extremely important case for the future of the Gospel.

Again for more information on the homosexual legal agenda, you can order our book, The Homosexual Agenda: The Principal Threat to Religious Freedom Today at http://www.telladf.org/issues/traditionalfamily/default.aspx?cid=3480.

To read more about the ACLU and its efforts to use international law as precedent in U.S. courts, go to www.acluvsamerica.com.

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 http://www.telladf.org/issues/religiousfreedom/internationallaw.aspx?cid=3234.
 
Good news - Ake Green acquitted!

From the Alliance Defense Fund:


You Prayed and God Answered! Pastor Ake Green Acquitted of "œHate Speech" by Swedish Supreme Court!

We just received word this AM that the Swedish Supreme Court "“ in an unanimous decision - has acquitted Pastor Ake Green of charges that he engaged in "œhate speech" when he delivered a sermon on homosexual behavior to his small church.

This is a MAJOR victory for religious freedom worldwide, as a loss would not only have sentenced Pastor Green to jail, but also set an international precedent that radical advocates of homosexual behavior would have attempted to use to legally silence the uncensored preaching of the Gospel around the globe.

ADF Chief Counsel Benjamin Bull (above with Pastor Green), who traveled to Sweden to advise Pastor Green and observe the trial, says: "œThis is a huge international victory for fundamental human rights, religious freedom, and freedom of speech. Voicing one´s conscience is a fundamental human right. In this contest between religious freedom and the radical homosexual agenda, religious freedom prevailed. As David slew Goliath, Ake Green slew the radical homosexual agenda in this case. We can only hope that will deter other attempts to censor Christian ministers from delivering Bible-based messages against harmful homosexual conduct. Ake Green is a hero and we are grateful for his stand and his perseverance."
 
I hope this hate speech prosecution of Christians don't become the norm. But I am still aghast at the fact that it was te Europeans that first brought a Christian up for trial.

and these people seem so wonderfully tolerant.
 
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