Christian Faces Trial Over Bible-Based Pamphlets

By Aussiegirl

Some religions are more equal than others. While Muslim imams call for violence and mayhem on the streets of London, Christians are prosecuted for distributing Bible verses.

Christian Faces Trial Over Bible-Based Pamphlets -- 09/12/2006

Evangelical Christians in Britain are concerned about the prosecution of a protester who was arrested at a homosexuality rally while disseminating leaflets quoting the biblical view about homosexuality.

Stephen Green, who heads a small but active lobby group called Christian Voice, is scheduled to appear before a Cardiff court on September 28, after pleading not guilty to a charge of "threatening, abusive or insulting behavior."

Although some Christian Voice campaigns and tactics have caused unease among some Christians, Green on this occasion won support.

The Evangelical Alliance, a 160-year-old group representing more than a million British evangelicals, said it was worried that the case may "erode" Christians' freedom to proclaim their faith, as well as freedom of speech and religious liberties.

It would be watching the Green case closely, the alliance said.

Green was arrested after allegedly refusing to stop handing out pamphlets to people arriving at a "Mardi Gras" event in the Welsh capital.

The leaflets he was handing out were entitled "Same-sex love, same-sex sex: What does the Bible say?"

The text, which is available on the Christian Voice website, included verses from Leviticus in the Old Testament and Romans in the New Testament, characterizing homosexual acts as sinful.

It also contained a basic gospel message, including the promise of God's forgiveness and eternal life for those who turn from their sins and "call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ."

Reports in homosexual media described the leaflets as "offensive" and "anti-gay."

Green was arrested by "Minorities Support Unit" of the South Wales Police. The force told London's Daily Mail that he had been arrested because of the content of the leaflets, not because he had behaved in an aggressive or violent manner.