identified himself as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender liaison officer for Cumbria police

Christian preacher arrested for saying homosexuality is a sin
A Christian street preacher was arrested and locked in a cell for telling a passer-by that homosexuality is a sin in the eyes of God.

By Heidi Blake
Published: 1:05PM BST 02 May 2010

Dale McAlpine was charged with causing “harassment, alarm or distress” after a homosexual police community support officer (PCSO) overheard him reciting a number of “sins” referred to in the Bible, including blasphemy, drunkenness and same sex relationships.

The 42-year-old Baptist, who has preached Christianity in Wokington, Cumbria for years, said he did not mention homosexuality while delivering a sermon from the top of a stepladder, but admitted telling a passing shopper that he believed it went against the word of God.


Related Articles
Tory candidate 'tried to 'cure' gay people through prayer'
Preacher threatened with arrest for reading out extracts from the Bible in public
Change and repent, bishop tells gays
Homosexual minister says he is 'humbled' by Church of Scotland's support
Pope's comments on homosexuality must not overshadow inclusiveness of Christmas
Pope says humanity needs 'saving' from homosexualityPolice officers are alleging that he made the remark in a voice loud enough to be overheard by others and have charged him with using abusive or insulting language, contrary to the Public Order Act.

Mr McAlpine, who was taken to the police station in the back of a marked van and locked in a cell for seven hours on April 20, said the incident was among the worst experiences of his life.

“I felt deeply shocked and humiliated that I had been arrested in my own town and treated like a common criminal in front of people I know," he said.

“My freedom was taken away on the hearsay of someone who disliked what I said, and I was charged under a law that doesn't apply.”

Christian campaigners have expressed alarm that the Public Order Act, introduced in 1986 to tackle violent rioters and football hooligans, is being used to curb religious free speech.

Sam Webster, a solicitor-advocate for the Christian Institute, which is supporting Mr McAlpine, said it is not a crime to express the belief that homosexual conduct is a sin.

“The police have a duty to maintain public order but they also have a duty to defend the lawful free speech of citizens,” he said.

“Case law has ruled that the orthodox Christian belief that homosexual conduct is sinful is a belief worthy of respect in a democratic society."

Mr McAlpine was handing out leaflets explaining the Ten Commandments or offering a “ticket to heaven” with a church colleague on April 20, when a woman came up and engaged him in a debate about his faith.

During the exchange, he says he quietly listed homosexuality among a number of sins referred to in 1 Corinthians, including blasphemy, fornication, adultery and drunkenness.

After the woman walked away, she was approached by a PCSO who spoke with her briefly and then walked over to Mr McAlpine and told him a complaint had been made, and that he could be arrested for using racist or homophobic language.

The street preacher said he told the PCSO: “I am not homophobic but sometimes I do say that the Bible says homosexuality is a crime against the Creator”.

He claims that the PCSO then said he was homosexual and identified himself as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender liaison officer for Cumbria police. Mr McAlpine replied: “It’s still a sin.”

The preacher then began a 20 minute sermon, in which he says he mentioned drunkenness and adultery, but not homosexuality. Three regular uniformed police officers arrived during the address, arrested Mr McAlpine and put him in the back of a police van.

At the station, he was told to empty his pockets and his mobile telephone, belt and shoes were confiscated. Police took fingerprints, a palm print, a retina scan and a DNA swab.

He was later interviewed, charged under Sections 5 (1) and (6) of the Public Order Act and released on bail on the condition that he did not preach in public.

Mr McAlpine pleaded not guilty at a preliminary hearing on Friday at Wokingham magistrates court and is now awaiting a trial date.

The Public Order Act, which outlaws the unreasonable use of abusive language likely to cause distress, has been used to arrest religious people in a number of similar cases.

Harry Hammond, a pensioner, was convicted under Section 5 of the Act in 2002 for holding up a sign saying “Stop immorality. Stop Homosexuality. Stop Lesbianism. Jesus is Lord” while preaching in Bournemouth.

Stephen Green, a Christian campaigner, was arrested and charged in 2006 for handing out religious leaflets at a Gay Pride festival in Cardiff. The case against him was later dropped.

Cumbria police said last night that no one was available to comment on Mr McAlpine’s case.

Kilkrazy wrote:This should be cross-referenced with the Christian sex therapist case.

Kilkrazy wrote:This should be cross-referenced with the Christian sex therapist case.

Albatross wrote:Free speech is a myth anyway,

chub wrote:

Albatross wrote:Free speech is a myth anyway,

I second that, in cases like this I am always reminded of Know your rights by the The Clash in the middle there is a line that goes "You have the right to free speech, as long as you're not dumb enough to actually try it" Says it all really

Frazzled wrote:Of course "sowing hatred" often depends on your point of view.

LuciusAR wrote:Hmmm.

Well this person is certainly a bigot and a fool who will be ignored by most. But a criminal? Sorry I'm not comfortable with people being arrested for voicing opinions, no matter how odious and silly they are.

Let him preach his nonsense and let the rest of the world respond by ignoring him or telling him precisely what we think of him. Now that's free speech.

Cannerus_The_Unbearable wrote:There's a difference between someone saying they think something is wrong and threatening someone. What hate was he preaching exactly? So "the law" believes in heaven? Someone can be arrested for telling someone they can't get to a place that said person may or may not even believe exists? Does that mean a Christian can be arrested for telling a non-Christian (discriminating based on religion, but fill in the blank here) that they believe they're going to hell, regardless if said non-Christian believes in hell or not? Or maybe they can be arrested for telling a Christian that they're not going to hell (again, discrimination by religion) because maybe that Christian wants to go to hell? This is a stupid, stupid can of worms.

Kilkrazy wrote:Perhaps the reverend should have saved his preaching for church.

You can imagine the howl of protest that would erupt from religious people if an atheist should set up some kind of public anti-religion thing. In fact you don't have to, because we already know from the Agnostic bus adverts last year.

You can't stop people believing stuff. The problem is when they want to proclaim their beliefs to other people and they don't want anyone else to be allowed to proclaim other beliefs.

Freedom of speech works both ways.

Kilkrazy wrote:Perhaps the reverend should have saved his preaching for church.

Kilkrazy wrote:
You can imagine the howl of protest that would erupt from religious people if an atheist should set up some kind of public anti-religion thing. In fact you don't have to, because we already know from the Agnostic bus adverts last year.

Frazzled wrote:
WHat happened to Trafalgar Square and all that time honored tradition of freedom of speech in the UK?

Frazzled wrote:

Kilkrazy wrote:Perhaps the reverend should have saved his preaching for church.

You can imagine the howl of protest that would erupt from religious people if an atheist should set up some kind of public anti-religion thing. In fact you don't have to, because we already know from the Agnostic bus adverts last year.

You can't stop people believing stuff. The problem is when they want to proclaim their beliefs to other people and they don't want anyone else to be allowed to proclaim other beliefs.

Freedom of speech works both ways.

Doesn't the facts of the case directly conflict with your statement?
The "other people" are the ones putting der nuttball in jail. They didn't want him to proclaim other beliefs.
Its nuts. How does this impact anyone but Christians who disagree of a philosphical basis?

WHat happened to Trafalgar Square and all that time honored tradition of freedom of speech in the UK?

generalgrog wrote:

Kilkrazy wrote:Perhaps the reverend should have saved his preaching for church.

Speech shouldn't be restricted to certain places. In America we even allow the nazi skinheads to have their little marches. People show up to yell back at them, but as long as no violence erupts or any inciting of riot happens it's fine.

In america, the law isn't their to protect you from speech, but to protect speech from you. It's a shame Britain is so close minded.

Kilkrazy wrote:
You can imagine the howl of protest that would erupt from religious people if an atheist should set up some kind of public anti-religion thing. In fact you don't have to, because we already know from the Agnostic bus adverts last year.

It's their right to do that if they want to. It's also peoples right to react to it. The police shouldn't have a right to lock you in irons for speaking your mind.

Also could you please provide a link to said agnostic adverts...I'm not familiar with the issue you describe.

GG


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Frazzled wrote:
WHat happened to Trafalgar Square and all that time honored tradition of freedom of speech in the UK?

QFT

GG

Soladrin wrote:No offense but... look where it's gotten you so far?

generalgrog wrote:

Kilkrazy wrote:Perhaps the reverend should have saved his preaching for church.

Speech shouldn't be restricted to certain places. In America we even allow the nazi skinheads to have their little marches. People show up to yell back at them, but as long as no violence erupts or any inciting of riot happens it's fine.

In america, the law isn't their to protect you from speech, but to protect speech from you. It's a shame Britain is so close minded.

Kilkrazy wrote:
You can imagine the howl of protest that would erupt from religious people if an atheist should set up some kind of public anti-religion thing. In fact you don't have to, because we already know from the Agnostic bus adverts last year.

It's their right to do that if they want to. It's also peoples right to react to it. The police shouldn't have a right to lock you in irons for speaking your mind.

Also could you please provide a link to said agnostic adverts...I'm not familiar with the issue you describe.

GG

olympia wrote:Hate speech is not protected speech. The cops did him a favor getting him off the street before he got his skull cracked open by some "sinners."

Kilkrazy wrote:


Well, actually I agree with you on this point. I do believe people should be free to express their beliefs. But that's not what christians seem to want in the UK. They seem to want their own belief and ability to express to be specially protected above other people's.