Christians fear jail for criticising gays
Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent for The Times
October 8, 2007

Evangelical Christian groups are giving warning that Christians who say gay sex is wrong could be sent to prison for up to seven years if MPs pass a new law being debated today.

A new offence against incitement to homophobic hatred could be put before Parliament as part of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill, due to receive its second reading today. Gay rights activists are calling for racial hatred law to be extended to cover “homophobic incidents”.

Colin Hart, Director of the conservative evangelical Christian Institute, said: “In a democratic society people must be free to express their beliefs without fear of censure. A homophobic hatred law would be used by those with an axe to grind against Christians to silence them. There has already been high profile cases of the police interfering with free speech and religious liberty regarding sexual ethics. People shouldn’t face prison for expressing their sincerely-held religious beliefs.”

Andrea Minichiello Williams, of the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship, said: “If such an amendment is put forward it is likely to be in the form of the existing incitement against racial hatred law. The type of actions targeted would not only be violently homophobic words, but would no doubt cover any criticism of practising homosexuality, homosexual acts and lifestyles.” the rest