Friday 14th October 2009
Christians today welcomed the stand taken on freedom of speech by the House of Lords. Their Lordships refused to give way to the House of Commons, which wanted to make it illegal for Christians to criticise the sexual practices and lifestyles of homosexuals.
By a majority of 44 (179 to 135) peers rejected the Government's fourth and last attempt to abolish Section 29JA of the Public Order Act. The Section clarifies the law brought in last year to make it a criminal offence to use threatening language intending to stir up hatred against people on the grounds of sexual orientation. It also mirrors a similar section in the law against stirring up hatred on religious grounds. It says:
'29JA Protection of freedom of expression (sexual orientation)
'In this Part, for the avoidance of doubt, the discussion or criticism of sexual conduct or practices or the urging of persons to refrain from or modify such conduct or practices shall not be taken of itself to be threatening or intended to stir up hatred.'
Peers were very much aware of the case of Pauline Howe. She wrote to Norwich City Council to complain about public money and effort being expended on a 'gay pride' march. In her letter she referred to homosexuals as 'sodomites' and blamed 'their perverted sexual practice' for sexually transmitted diseases and for the 'downfall of every empire'.
Whether she was totally right in that or whether sodomy is simply the most visible expression of a failing empire in its death throes is open to debate, but the council broke the Data Protection Act by passing Mrs Howe's letter to Norfolk Constabulary, who immediately sent two police officers around to threaten and intimidate her.
The vote by peers infuriated gay activists. Chris, Lord, Smith, said it would lead to attacks on homosexuals, conveniently ignoring the massive amount of violence perpetrated on homosexuals from within their own network.
The co-chair of LGBT Labour, Katie Hanson, said, 'We are very disappointed that the new law will have an exemption in it for people on the basis of religious views. We do not want to let this rest. We will be urging the government to revisit this law in the new session of parliament ... to make sure there are no exemptions to protection from homophobic hatred.'
Stonewall, the wealthy gay lobby group, said, 'We're worried that the unelected Lords have sent a message that intolerance is OK'.
Intolerance is certainly OK in the Governments' Equality Bill, but it is intolerance of Christians and anyone disagreeing with the politically-correct view that homosexuality is just wonderful.
The Bill would force churches and faith-based organisations to employ practising homosexuals and transsexuals, allow atheists cleaners to object to the display of crosses and oblige public authorities such as local councils, the police, fire and ambulance services, hospitals and primary care trusts and even schools to promote homosexuality.
