Posted on 01/27/2006 3:37:50 AM PST by 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The remarks which were found to be offensive were originally made in parliament during the debate on the hate speech law which Vanneste opposed, and more recently repeated to newspapers.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."
LOL...and Claud gets a hint why this company he applied to never gave his resume the time o' day.....
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.IOW, a tiny minority (2 per cent of most societies other than San Franswishco) dictates what another minority (or even the majority) can say. Democracy in action!
It's a good thing we have freedom of speech or else I'd be fined to death for my comments in public. My wife (a female because that is how it is supposed to be) is always telling me to watch what I say.
Truthofobia
FReepmail if you want on/off the ping list.
Do the French have LEGISLATIVE IMMUNITY? Evidently no. This guy should seek asylum in the U.S. for religious persecution.
Beyond belief -- freedom of speech and religion is dying in Europe (and Canada)...
I'm wondering if he got convicted for his speech to Parliament or to the newspaper.
I consider it particularly heinous if pure political speech in front of a legislative body is subject to this infringement.
That is our future unless we kick some *** (figuratively speaking of course). Not in a tolerant mood lately...
I don't know why you 'Catholic Ping'd' this one. It's been a long, long, long, long time since France was a Catholic country....
It doesn't "call it into question." It destroys it.
I've had to deal with a lot of things lately, so I'm not in a tolerant mood either.
The fact that he was prosecuted for remarks made in open debate in Parliament is doubly offensive. If elected officials cannot have freedom in speech in the legislature, then the country is truly no longer free.
Were it me, I would refuse to pay the fine and would risk jail instead. I am not saying that to show how tough I am. Any Christian should do the same, and countless would.
Being intolerant of that which should not be tolerated is a Good Thing.
Coming to Poland ASAP and Reactor, Gryzgy and Lukasz will not utter a word of criticism against their paymasters....they're good little Uncle Toms.
Just for the record, "The Book of Daniel," by the radical writer E. L. Doctorow, was about the children of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, the convicted and executed communist spies who were in large measure responsible for stealing American atomic bomb secrets for the Soviet Union. Many on the Left, prompted by those two sons, Robert and Michael Meeropol, still argue that the Rosenbergs were innocent, or that the whole thing was an overblown reaction to the "McCarthyist" "red scare" of that era. But Soviet intelligence and the Venona codes, among other sources, proved their guilt beyond question. Thereafter, the Soviets used nuclear threats to bully and enslave other nations. How many innocent people lost their freedom or their lives due to the Rosenbergs' treason cannot be calculated, but it must be many millions.
<< ... making [So-called] "soddoffobia" illegal ... will bolster the notion that [Sodomists'] 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." >>
Got that Right!
<< [Sodomists'] acts are portrayed in Scripture as a grave depravity and an abomination. >>
Got that Right.
<< ... the Catholic Church says that that such acts are intrinsically disordered and contrary to the natural law [And] ... can never be approved. >>
Got that Right.
<< What we have all known for years is now official: France is STUFFED! >>
Got that Right!
<< Screw the Frogs! >> .... [Not the male ones, though]
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