London Street Preacher Cleared of ‘Hate Speech’ Charges for Preaching From Bible

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

QUICK FACTS:

• A court in the U.K. has cleared a 72-year-old Christian street pastor of all charges a year after his arrest for purportedly causing “alarm and distress” in London by preaching about the biblical definition of marriage, which police said was “hate speech,” The Christian Post (CP) reports.
• Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court acquitted Pastor John Sherwood of the Penn Free Methodist Church in north London, whose defense was centered on Article 10 of the 1998 Human Rights Act.
• “The trial was quite remarkable in that there was so much Scripture quoted in it. Pastor Sherwood was determined to impress upon the prosecution that everything that he ever preaches upon is grounded in the final authority of God’s word, the Bible,” said Sherwood’s colleague, Pastor Peter Simpson.
• Simpson went on to describe how, during the trial, “the public gallery was full with Christians showing their support for a man of God who is willing to stand up for the truths of Scripture.”

A peaceful street preacher arrested in London this month. His crime? Quoting from the Bible.

Police officers can be heard alleging a ‘hate crime’ before dragging the man, in his 70s, off his podium.

What is the UK becoming? pic.twitter.com/0ihnGZow2X

— Jamie Gillies (@jmgillies) April 29, 2021

BIBLICAL PASSAGE POLICE ARRESTED SHERWOOD FOR PREACHING:

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth'” (Gen. 1:27–28).

BACKGROUND:

• Article 10 of the 1998 Human Rights Act states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of expression,” and goes on to say that this right “shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority.”
• Last April, Sherwood had been speaking on Genesis 1:27-28 in the northwest London town of Uxbridge, arguing that marriage is between one man and one woman, CP explains.
• Sherwood was then approached by police officers, who told him that three complaints had been received about his preaching.
• The police accused him of causing “alarm and distress” to the public and arrested him.