French Parliamentarian Fined Thousands of Euros for 'Homophobia'

LifeSiteNews ^ | 27 January 2006 | John-Henry Westen

[Aussie Dasher]

LILLE, France, January 26, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A court in Lille handed down its sentence on a French Parliamentarian Tuesday, fining him 3000 Euros and forcing him to pay an additional 6000 Euros to be split between three homosexual activist groups who brought the charges against the MP. Christian Vanneste, a member of the UMP representing the Lille region was found guilty in December on charges of violating a French law barring "hate speech" against homosexuals.

However, Vanneste in the remarks upon which the charges were based and in his defence, was clear that he was not speaking against homosexual persons but homosexual sex acts. In his defence he said "Homosexual acts are socially and morally inferior . . . To describe a behavior which is not beneficial for society is not discriminating against those who make the choice of homosexuality," he said.

The remarks which were found to be offensive were originally made in parliament during the debate on the hate speech law which Vanneste opposed, and more recently repeated to newspapers. In Parliament he said that the idea of making "homophobia" illegal was a "contradiction in terms ... This will bolster the notion that homosexual behaviour has the same value as any other kind of behaviour, when, in fact, it is obvious that it is a threat to the survival of humanity."

The conviction and sentence marks the first politician to be prosecuted under France's homosexual hate speech law that was enacted in December 2004.

Vanneste said the ruling was extremely grave and calls into question freedom of expression. He said he would appeal the decision.

The ruling also impinges on freedom of religion since criminalizing speech against homosexual acts would lead to charges against persons stating the faith positions of major religions.

Comments against homosexual acts are common from Christians who believe, as a matter of faith, that such acts are gravely immoral. Homosexual acts are portrayed in Scripture as a "grave depravity" and an "abomination." Also, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says that that such acts are "intrinsically disordered and contrary to the natural law," adding that "they can never be approved."

[WestVirginiaRebel]

I'm shocked.

There are heterosexual Frenchmen?

[satchmodog9]

Coming soon to a nation near you.

[A. Pole]

A court in Lille handed down its sentence on a French Parliamentarian Tuesday
[...]
Comments against homosexual acts are common from Christians who believe, as a matter of faith, that such acts are gravely immoral.

Bump

[siunevada]

This will bolster the notion that homosexual behaviour has the same value as any other kind of behaviour, when, in fact, it is obvious that it is a threat to the survival of humanity.

Culture of Death, no kidding around. Hope the appeals court is more rational.

[cgbg]

Liberal historians love to whine:

"How could a barbarism like Naziism have prospered in "civilized Europe"?

The answer we know now--"civilized Europe" is one of the few areas of the world where homosexuality is advocated, protected, subsidized, and coddled.

Europe is "progressing" over the cliff to oblivion--again.

[F16Fighter]

Vanneste said the ruling was extremely grave and calls into question freedom of expression. He said he would appeal the decision.

The ruling also impinges on freedom of religion since criminalizing speech against homosexual acts would lead to charges against persons stating the faith positions of major religions.

Then what???

The Euros enforcing the mark of the beast 666 can't be too far away.

[Psycho_Bunny]

There's some cosmic reason that one of my least favorite words: "France" starts with the same letter as one of my favorites: "F*cked".

[kronos77]

NBC pulls the plug on 'Book of Daniel' Creator tells fans controversial show yanked from Friday night schedule Posted: January 23, 2006 11:59 p.m. Eastern © 2006 WorldNetDaily.com NBC's "The Book of Daniel" may have launched to great controversy and hoopla. But, today, the show ended with a whimper – pulled unceremoniously from NBC's Friday night schedule, effective immediately, with no more of an announcement than an entry on an NBC blog by creator Jack Kenny. "Unfortunately, due to many reasons, 'The Book of Daniel' will no longer be aired on NBC on Friday nights," he wrote to fans. "I just wanted to say 'thank you' to all of you who supported the show. There were many wonderful, talented people who contributed to its success – and I do mean success. Whatever the outcome, I feel that I accomplished what I set out to do: A solid family drama, with lots of humor, that honestly explored the lives of the Webster family. Good, flawed people, who loved each other no matter what ... and there was always a lot of 'what'! I remain proud of our product, proud of my association with Sony, NBC Universal, and NBC, who all took a chance on a project that spoke to them, and proud to have made an impact on so many of your lives." Aidan Quinn as Episcopal priest with Garret Dillahunt as 'Jesus' in NBC's 'Book of Daniel' As WorldNetDaily first reported, "The Book of Daniel," written by a homosexual, was promoted as the only show on television in which Jesus appeared as a recurring character and the only network prime-time drama series with a regular male "gay" character, a 23-year-old Republican son. The main character, Daniel Webster, was a troubled, pill-popping Episcopal priest. Touted as the riskiest show of the year, it included a wife who relied on midday martinis, a 16-year-old daughter who was a drug dealer and a 16-year-old adopted son who was having sex with the bishop's daughter. At the office, the priest's lesbian secretary was sleeping with his sister-in-law. One NBC affiliate after another dropped the show. Advertisers ran from it. And, apparently, despite all the controversy it generated, so did viewers. Nashville's WSMV-TV General Manager Elden Hale, Jr. said: "Based on a review of the first three episodes and the clearly voiced concerns from our viewers, we have determined that the program 'The Book of Daniel' is not appropriate for broadcast television in this community." After the first three episodes, only Burlington Coat Factory was left as a national sponsor. The heat began to generate for the show following WND's first story. Shortly afterward, the American Family Association launched a national boycott, citing WND's story. AFA Chairman Donald E. Wildmon said NBC's decision to cancel the program is instructive. "This shows the average American that he doesn't have to simply sit back and take the trash being offered on TV, but he can get involved and fight back with his pocketbook," he said. The network had to absorb millions of dollars in losses each time it aired the program, Wildmon pointed out, because the show's sponsors bailed out. "We want to thank the 678,394 individuals who sent e-mails to NBC and the thousands who called and e-mailed their local affiliates," he added. Besides Nashville, other NBC affiliates across the nation either never aired the show or stopped broadcasting it. They included Hattiesburg, Miss.; Meridian, Miss.; Jackson, Miss.; Amarillo, Texas; Wichita, Kan.; Beaumont, Texas; and Terre Haute, Ind. Only six episodes of the "Book of Daniel" were shot. Kevin Reilly, NBC Entertainment president, said the network's reluctance to order more episodes had more to do with the series' sluggish ratings performance than controversy. "We're going to continue to put on creative programming, regardless of any possible controversy," Reilly said last week. Earlier, he announced the cancellation of "West Wing." The network has slated an episode of "Law and Order" in place of "Daniel" for this Friday at 10 p.m. Eastern.

[x5452]

Coming to Poland soon thanks to the EU.

[Galveston Grl]

Boy, our liberals would love to have a law like this. They would never have to win another election because all their real oppoistion would be in prison. They would win power by default.

[Earthdweller]

Not to worry. Once the french Muslims take over France there won't be any homos there to speak of anyway.

Ahhhhaaa.....don't you just love how diversity works ?

[ExcursionGuy84]

Screw the Frogs!

Screws are too good for those amphibians.

[ExcursionGuy84]

Once the french Muslims take over France there won't be any homos there to speak of anyway

If only Muslims were really THAT thorough in eradicating all minorities... [sarcasm off]

[ncountylee]

The IslamoPukes and the sodomites race to destroy France.

So long weenies!

[Earthdweller]

Kinda scary when you think about it. Where are all those homos going to go when the Muslims take over france?

Two French homos sittin' in a tree.

K..I..S..S..I..N..G

First comes love next comes marriage

Then comes the head without a body carriage.

Gee....maybe we should start sponsoring some long trips to Paris for certain people.

[outofhere2]

France where's your manhood?

[Al Simmons]

Anyone else holding their breath awaiting the first French prosecution of one of their local muzzie mulahs for speaking out against the h*mos????

[Earthdweller]

Bahahahaha!! You point out a flaw in socialist paradise.

Say it ain't so.

No ...the french commies will work with the islamofascists and the homos to get the white guys first then they will take each other out.

Any bets who will come out on top? ( pun alert)

[outofhere2]

You're right. The muslims are smart and will go along with the communists and homos to vanquish the white westerns democrats. Then they will rid themselves of the gays and then the communists. Tell me that's not clever.

[redpoll]

Ah, yes, the slow slide into totalitarianism, from the people who gave us such luminaries as the Committee for Public Safety and the Dreyfuss Affair. Apparently you can say anything you want, as long as it's what we want you to say. From this side of the Atlantic it looks like there is a long cultural tradition in Europe of depraved tyranny, and this is just the start of the newest incarnation.