Appeals Court Overturns Conviction of Street Preacher Who Quoted the Bible

Michael Overd

On December 11, an appeals court in the United Kingdom overturned the conviction of a street preacher who quoted from the Bible against homosexuality. Michael Overd was convicted in March of offending public order because he quoted Leviticus 20 in a public conversation. The homosexuals who brought the accusation had actually instigated the conversation in an apparent attempt to antagonize Overd. He was fined $300 and ordered to pay compensation and costs totaling $1800 for causing “emotional pain.” Now this conviction has been overruled by Taunton Crown Court Circuit Judge David Ticehurst, who upheld Overd’s appeal. He was defended by Christian Concern. In comments following the reversal of his conviction, Overd said: “I give thanks to God for today’s vindication. I have known God’s peace and presence throughout this difficult time. Today the Court was faced with the farcical situation of a witness telling the judge that he couldn’t even remember what I had said, but simply asserting that it was ‘homophobic’--as though the mere assertion that something is ‘homophobic’ is enough to curtail free speech. In this country, we are now in the ludicrous situation where the slightest accusation of a ‘phobia’, be it ‘homophobia’ or ‘Islamaphobia’, is enough to paralyse rational action by the police and authorities. The highly politicised dogma of ‘phobias’ now too often results in trumped up charges and legal action. There is a chilling effect. Reasonable, law-abiding people now feel that they can’t say certain things and that is dangerous. Totalitarian regimes develop when ordinary people feel that there are certain things that can’t be said” (“Christian preachers wins appeal,” Christian Concern, Dec. 11, 2015).

(Friday Church News Notes, December 25, 2015, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)

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