Posted on 02/05/2024 10:51:46 AM PST by Morgana
Another pro-life advocate in the UK has been charged with breaking a discriminatory law that prevents pro-life free speech outside abortion businesses.
Pastor Stephen Green, 72, from South Wales, was found guilty of breaching a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for holding a sign with a verse from the Bible on it outside of an abortion clinic.
Green was prosecuted by Ealing Council under section 67 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 for holding the sign outside of an MSI Reproductive Choices clinic in Mattock Lane, West London, on 6 February 2023.
The legislation prohibits any ‘act of disapproval’ of abortion within the ‘buffer zone’, which includes praying and reading from the Bible.
The sign said: ‘Psalm 139:13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.’
Here’s more on today’s guilty verdict:
Handing down judgment today at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court in West London, District Judge Kathryn Verghis said: “The extract of the Psalm mentioning ‘my mother’s womb’…was an act of protest of abortion. There were less controversial verses you could have chosen to display. I can come to no other conclusion that [the verse] was an act of disapproval [of abortion services].. an act prohibited [by the PSPO].
Whilst admitting that the PSPO was “a significant interference” of Mr Green’s rights under articles 9 and 10 of the European Convention, she said those rights had to be weighed against individuals accessing abortion services.
She concluded that, Mr Green’s: “Protest was peaceful…but your actions were not proportionate….I find you guilty as summoned.”
Turning to sentencing, Mr Green’s lawyer said as a matter of principle that Mr Green would not pay any financial penalty, which could ultimately result in a prison sentence. The judge imposed a 1 year conditional discharge, the victim surcharge of £26 and a costs order of £2,400.
Pastor Green indicated he plans to appeal the guilty verdict and pay no fine for the bogus charges.
Mr Green, who is being supported by the Christian Legal Centre, said he will appeal the conviction to the Crown Court, saying: “As a Christian I should be able to preach freely all over the land. Psalm 139 is about how we all belong to God from conception.
“Buffer zones and this conviction is a direct attack on the Bible and free speech, which is being licenced by the state. I have no choice but to continue to defend myself and fight for justice.
“People are right to be concerned about the buffer zone legislation. To bar Christian witness and to control what people can say is deeply draconian and discriminatory against Christians.
“If it is now a criminal offence to hold a sign with a verse from Psalm 139 on it in a London street, then none of us is free.’
“I have been ordered to pay costs, frankly I would rather go to prison than pay this to the state that has banned the Bible.”
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: “Psalm 139 is one of the most well known and beautiful passages in the Bible which points to the hope and comfort of each person being wonderfully made and looked after by God. Hearing a judge say that verses from Psalm 139 are an ‘act of protest’ and to be punished is devastating.”
“The effect of the PSPO is to create an area where Bible verses and prayer are outlawed,” she said. We will stand with Mr Green as he seeks justice in this case.”
Psalm 139 is arguably one of the most famous and well-known pieces of scripture in the Bible.
During the incident, Mr Green, who is being supported by the Christian Legal Centre, was alleged to have broken a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which, including prayer, criminalises “protesting, namely engaging in an act of approval/disapproval, with respect to issues related to abortion services”.
The PSPO, put in place by Ealing Council in April 2018, was the first ‘buffer zone’ surrounding an abortion clinic to be introduced in the UK.
PSPO legislation is usually reserved for anti-social behaviour such as dog fouling, littering and alcohol and drug misuse.
There was some Muslim guy who said, to paraphrase, go ahead, kill yourselves off, then we will take your land. We will not kill a Muslim baby before it’s born.
So arrest the English guy trying to stop this from happening.
My guess is they will throw him in a prison and let him be beaten until he’s dead...that’s how they do the death penalty in Europe.
Abortion is the blessed sacrament of the oligarchs.
So any violation of that will be punished!
I’m trying to think of a Koranic verse I could hold up by an abortion clinic in the UK while wearing a burka.
They would not touch me, I’m a protected class.
Just wondering: In England, is it illegal to stage a protest outside of a Christian church or carry a sign criticizing any aspect of Christianity?
Al-Quran 6:1511 min read
“take not life, which God hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law:thus doth He command you, that ye may learn Wisdom.”
Well, the ruling class in Jesus’ time had Him crucified because he opposed them. NO surprise they will do the same to the rest of His followers.
He warned us that would happen.
Banning the Bible is not cool. What if he held a quote from the Koran (yes, they ban abortion too). would they think of banning the Koran? NEVER!
All Europe has gone full 1984 Fascist.
Judges have addresses, just like everyone else.
L
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