I read a story today in the New York Daily News online about a street preacher in Cumbria, U.K., who was arrested — by a gay policeman, no less — for telling someone that homosexuality is a sin.
Dale McAlpine, who was charged with causing “harassment, alarm or distress,” said that he didn’t say anything about homosexuality being a sin during his sermon there on the street, but acknowledged that he made that statement to a passerby during a one-on-one conversation.
The London Telegraph reported that an officer talked to a woman who had just been talking to McAlpine, and then went up to the preacher and warned him that he faced arrest for using hate speech. McAlpine then started preaching again, and then the officer arrested him.
Oh, and just for the record, McAlpine was also denouncing blasphemy and drunkenness.
I know there are plenty of people out there who will say that McAlpine was using hate speech when he —allegedly — called homosexuality a sin. And I know there are plenty of other people who will say he was practicing his freedom of religion.
Personally, I have a problem with arresting someone for saying homosexuality is a sin or sinful or whatever. There are plenty of major religions that teach just that, and even though I disagree — most strongly — I don’t think the government (in this case, the police) should be able to arrest someone for saying that.
There is a fine, fine line, though. Saying homosexuality is a sin is not the same as suggesting that people should be executed for the sin of homosexuality. Making a statement like that is, I believe, on the order of yelling “fire” in a crowded theater — that old standby for determining where free speech rights end. (I feel like I’m talking in circles, here.)
I know that it makes a lot of people angry to hear people “preaching” about homosexuality and sin. It irritates the hell out of me, too. There are a lot of things that people say about homosexuality and LGBT people that irritate the hell out of me. But I still believe they have the right to say those things, just like I have the right to express my opinions about their religions. You have to remember, taking away — or even just taking away from — the free speech rights of someone else is just a very small step away from someone taking away your free speech rights.
There has to be a line drawn between free speech and speech inciting violence. But I, for one, hope it’s not drawn too close to where I am standing.
You conveniently left out the part about him telling the cop (to his face) that homosexuals are sinners and going to burn in hell. When the cop told him “I am homosexual” the man said that doesn’t change the fact.
You also left out the fact this man was an american visiting a foreign country who may or may not have been aware of the laws. The police officer did provide him a warning.
The problem is, when it comes to religion. One persons ‘fact’ is another’s ‘fiction’.
For example, I personally feel people who think like this are going to be very surprised come “judgement day” and I have just as much right to believe that (and say it) as he does.
You also failed to mention that Peter Tatchell, a gay activist from London publicly condemned this mans arrest.
Thanks for the wonderfully biased article.
Tom: The story I read and referred to in this post does not include information about the preacher telling the officer that homosexuals are sinners and will burn in help. I pointed out the officer gave him a warning. And I have previously noted that Peter Tatchell condemned McAlpine’s arrest.
I personally think McAlpine’s religious views are despicable. But I believe he has the right to believe that way, and I believe he has the right to voice those opinions. Just as I have the right to believe he is a jackass and to voice that opinon.
The whole point is that when you silence someone with whom you disagree, then you set the stage for someone else to silence you because they disagree with you.
Tammye, you are correct that free speech must allow for hate speech; otherwise it is not truly free. The UK does not enjoy the same constitutional protection of freedom of speech that we enjoy in the US. Here, it would be quite clear that one can say almost anything without fear of arrest or other legal consequences, whether it is hateful, ignorant, or stupid (slander, libel, and immediate provocation of violence are not protected, but pretty much everything else is).
We recognize the right of an idiotic Fred Phelps to denounce us so that we can enjoy the right to denounce him. The “Truth” usually wins out in these duels.
I think your argument is valid, and thank you for sticking up for this point. I, too, am a proponent of free speech. Saying homosexuality is a sin doesn’t violate anyone’s rights, and it sure isn’t harassment. In the United States, those who are religious retain the right to preach what they believe (although there is a line if it affects public safety). In the United States, what this man was preaching is legal, and certainly doesn’t interfere with public safety.
Much appreciated.