2007-10-10 04:41:13 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Do you think this type of law could work in US?
See short BBC article here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7034649.stm
2007-10-10 04:42:38 · update #1
If you read the link provided you will see following:
"A new offence will help deter extremists who stir up hatred against lesbian and gay people.
"These protections aren't about preventing people expressing their religious views in a temperate way.
2007-10-10 05:16:50 · update #2
Ansaan_!: In explanation, of the Christians onlt=y the extremists would likely attempt to incite hatred of gays therefore addressing this to fundamentalists is not unwarranted.
2007-10-10 05:24:35 · update #3
Wooooo! Go UK!
2007-10-10 04:46:38 · answer #1 · answered by I am the Badger Princess. 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋
The UK Sexual Orientation Regulations (SORs) are now much improved due to a Northern Ireland High Court action that clarified some anomalies. The basic problem was where the rights of homosexuals clashed with Article 9 (the right to freedom of religion). Now Article 9 rights can block the Regulations. Courts should consider a Canadian judment (Brockie) that said Christians should not be forced to act against their corre religious beliefs. It was established as a finding of fact that the orthodox Christian belief is that the practice of homosexuality is sinful..
To protect free speech, the Regulations have been 'firmed up' by the removal of 'harassment' from them. Had this been allowed to remain, a homosexual could have claimed he felt offended whilst receiving goods, facilities or services, and sue for harassment. It now remains legal for a Christian to express his religious belief that homosexual practice is morally wrong without having to face a crippling lawsuit. This is fair and should be reflected in the forthcoming Single Equality Bill for Great Britain.
Of note is the fact that, after the ruling in Belfast, Britain's leading homosexual lobby group - Stonewall - confirmed its view that the law on harassment was unnecessary.
It is unarguably true that nobody should incite hatred against gay people; equally that those who believe homosexuality is morally wrong for religious reasons can say so in public. Always, a balance needs to be maintained. The US could learn a lot from the British Courts on this matter.
But your reference to 'fundamentalist' Christians is unwarranted. ALL Christians who abide by the Bible's moral standards consider the act of homosexuality to be sinful, whilst appealing to the sinner to repent.
2007-10-10 11:56:05 · answer #2 · answered by Annsan_In_Him 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think it is an afront to free speech. What is defined as inciting hatred of gays? Is it openly condemning their lifestyle? I have never heard a preacher tell a congregation to go out, find homosexuals and beat them up or kill them. I HAVE heard them say that homosexuality is a sin, it is. I am a Christian with a lesbian sister. I do not hate her, nor do I incite hatred against her. I DO condemn her lifestyle choice (yes, in her case it is a choice, she has never had homosexual tendencies but entered a relationship with a woman after a bitter divorce). She knows how I feel about the lifestyle she has chosen to lead and I will not allow it to be around my children or in my home (any more than I would encourage adultery, or fornication). The Bible doesn't teach us to hate the person, it teaches us to hate the sin!
2007-10-10 11:52:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
This is a law whose goal is to silence ANY mention of opposition to gay lifestyle. They will argue that a preacher teaching about sexual immorality from the Bible is 'hate speech' and is inciting folks to go out and bash a gay person's skull in. This is a move towards silencing the Church...and the same laws are trying to be enacted HERE in the US....
Christians...make your voice heard. Its not enough to remove God from the school system. This is a move to silence your pastor and potentially even you.
PS..
And I saying...it will not stop there. Everyone is against violence. This sort of law is a cover to broaden the definition of what 'incites' violence to include the mere MENTION of opposition to being gay.
2007-10-10 12:14:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
do you think God hates the gays because of who they are?
and if a christian hates a gay for what he is then that person doesn't have the father.
Jesus's command was to love as I have loved
Jesus was among the worst sinners of the time He loved them and came for them, but God does not love the sin that's the difference
The women caught in Adultery by the law of the time any women caught in adultery was to be stoned to death.
they brought the women to Jesus and what did Jesus say to them. Whosoever is without sin let him cast the first stone.
eventually they all left and just the women and Jesus was left. Jesus said to the women where are your accusers and the women said they left. Jesus said neither do I accuse you go and sin no more.
so how can anyone hate someone for what they believe they are?
2007-10-10 11:50:28 · answer #5 · answered by bmdt07 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are already laws on the books against violence. I think a law like this should be carefully studied as not to infringe on our right of freedom of speech. I do not believe in hatred towards anyone regardless of the beliefs or sexual orientation. But I also believe that just as Christians are accused of pushing beliefs on others, the secular society can be just as pushy.
2007-10-10 11:57:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am firmly against advancing hatred of anyone, gay or not. If I meet any Christian who does it I call them on it, and tell them to read what Jesus said. However I worry a law like that could be over-zealously applied to people who don't advance hate but think homosexuality is wrong (ie not saying to hate gay people, but rejecting the idea of gay marriage). And what does this do to free speech?
2007-10-10 11:50:10 · answer #7 · answered by Phil K 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I wonder if they'll extend this same reasoning to hate towards Christians. How about Muslims? Seems to me that you can use the word incite to mean anything you want.
2007-10-10 11:54:20 · answer #8 · answered by JohnFromNC 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Not sure what to think but I don't think the law would stay up very long I'm sure lots of people will go to jail.
As for America never too many protesters would be agaisn't it and plus would vote agaisn't it if they had the chance. Also I think the Surpreme Court would reject the law.
2007-10-10 11:46:24 · answer #9 · answered by missgigglebunny 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I think there already is a law on the books - not specifically about homosexuals - but about inciting violence toward anyone. Do we need to get more specific than that?
2007-10-10 11:47:06 · answer #10 · answered by milomax 6 · 6⤊ 1⤋
I'm not a fundy christian...but I personally think it's a good law. It sends a good clear message that people who incite others to go and physically attack an individual based solely on that individuals sexual orientation will be punished for their actions...
Seems to me that law would work here in the US also....if we only had someone with the balls to put it forward.
2007-10-10 11:48:26 · answer #11 · answered by Adam G 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋