Åke Green cleared over gay sermon (Sweden)

TT/The Local ^ | November 29, 2005

[Unam Sanctam]

A victory for freedom of speech and religion! Now all we need is a similar court ruling in Canada...

[SmithL]

I'm glad he was cleared, but it sure seems like a reluctant ruling by the court instead of a ringing endorsement of freedom of Religion.

[Forest Keeper]

Thanks for the Ping!

[two134711]

This is a truly frightening statement:

Prosecutor Stefan Johansson argued that Green had gone much further than the Bible, and had expressed his own views.

So speech that is based on fact, observation and personal experience is deemed meritless and only religious speech remains protected! That opinion just may come back to bite Sweden on its proverbial ass when they realize most of their Muslim immigrants are not going to assimilate into Swedish culture. Be careful for what you wish...

[fdsa2]

I understand you speak Swedish. Here is the link to the full text of the Swedish Supreme Court Verdict.

http://www.hogstadomstolen.se/2005/2005-11-29%20B%201050-05%20dom.pdf

[Forest Keeper]

But the court decided that a conviction would not be upheld by the European Court. Several comparable cases have resulted in acquittals in the European Court, Supreme Court chairman Johan Munck told TT.

Could (what appears to me to be) a UN-style court really trump the Supreme Court of a sovereign nation? That would be right out of the Anthony Kennedy School of Jurisprudence.

[Forest Keeper]

This is a truly frightening statement:

Prosecutor Stefan Johansson argued that Green had gone much further than the Bible, and had expressed his own views.

Thank God we have master theologians like prosecutor Johannson to distinguish between extra-biblical views and real-world illustrations/applications of Biblical teaching.

[WVNan]

Can somebody point me to Rev. Green's sermon. I saw it a couple of days ago and now I can't find it.

[Forest Keeper]

Sure, here it is: Pastor Green's Sermon

[WVNan]

Thank you. I had to post and run.

[Mentat]

I don´t really agree with you on what is the point here: There has been quite a debate in Sweden over this and most often it goes like this: "Green is right - he should be aquitted!" OR "Green is wrong - he should be put in jail!"

My view is that this has got nothing to do with it. Green should have every right to be wrong. If only "correct" view are allowed to be expressed, then we have no freedom of speech. I am disgusted that the case even went to court.

I can accept that it should not be allowed to incite to violence, but Green did not do that which is obviuos if you read the whole sermon and not just the few juicy words that went around in the press. However, if someone were to stand up and preach "death to all jews", then things would be very different.