Posted on 12/02/2002 6:03:41 PM PST by RochesterFan
A small Phoenix-based apologetics ministry has won its lawsuit against a liberal free speech advocate. Barry Lynn, who has claimed that the First Amendment protects the distribution of X-rated movies, agreed recently to stop censoring distribution of an Alpha and Omega Ministries' (AOM) videotape in which he debated the director of the ministry last May over the question, "Is Homosexuality Compatible With Authentic Christianity?"
Lynn filed the suit in April, but AOM officials said he had agreed before the debate to the video's reproduction and distribution. However, the executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State tried to block their efforts.
"The irony was thick enough to cut," said Benjamin Bull, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund Law Center, which represented AOM. "Lynn has argued that even child pornography is protected by the First Amendment. But then he wanted to censor a videotape in which he discusses the compatibility of homosexual behavior and Christianity. It was unusual."
Bull noted that "Lynn is a public figure." "The debate was a newsworthy event," he said. "There were no relevant copyright issues to contest; the videotape was recorded with full knowledge by all parties that it would be reproduced and distributed. The First Amendment protects the right to distribute the videotape as a newsworthy event. People have a right to know the truth." Because of the settlement, AOM will continue distributing the videotape.
Alpha and Omega Ministries is the apologetics ministry of James White (www.aomin.org)
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