General Discussion

FrodosPet

(5,169 posts) Tue Dec 15, 2015, 02:01 AM Dec 2015

Evangelical Preacher On Trial After Branding Islam 'Satanic'

Posted Without Comment

[hr]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_NIRELAND_PREACHER_CHARGED?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-12-14-10-21-20

LONDON (AP) -- An evangelical preacher from Northern Ireland who branded Islam satanic has been charged with spreading a "grossly offensive" message.

In a May 2014 sermon, James McConnell told worshippers at the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle in Belfast: "Islam is heathen. Islam is satanic."

The sermon was streamed online, and 78-year-old McConnell has been charged with transmitting the message over an electronic communications network.

Prosecutor David Russell told Belfast Magistrates' Court Monday that the case had "nothing to do with religion or freedom of expression."

~ snip ~

5 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Evangelical Preacher On Trial After Branding Islam 'Satanic' (Original Post) FrodosPet Dec 2015 OP

Looks like he violated somebody's safe space NobodyHere Dec 2015 #1

"Be careful what you say." LuvNewcastle Dec 2015 #2

A bit more of what he said muriel_volestrangler Dec 2015 #3

The First Amendment is one of the very best things about the United States. Nye Bevan Dec 2015 #4

Good thing we had a revolution madville Dec 2015 #5

NobodyHere

(2,810 posts)

1. Looks like he violated somebody's safe space

Reply to FrodosPet (Original post)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 02:55 AM

Dec 2015

LuvNewcastle

(16,846 posts)

2. "Be careful what you say."

Reply to FrodosPet (Original post)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 10:17 AM

Dec 2015

muriel_volestrangler

(101,321 posts)

3. A bit more of what he said

Reply to FrodosPet (Original post)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 10:27 AM

Dec 2015

The charges relate to the internet-broadcast sermon in which he also described Islam as "a doctrine spawned in hell".
...
Mr Russell said the pastor's description of Islam as "heathen" and "satanic" could be considered grossly offensive.
...
However, he said they were part of the context of a comment made immediately beforehand, in which the pastor said: "People say there are good Muslims in Britain - that may be so - but I don't trust them."

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/case-against-satanic-islam-sermon-pastor-james-mcconnell-hangs-on-just-five-words-his-qc-tells-belfast-hearing-34287711.html

His later words and actions do look like he's genuinely apologetic to me, though.

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)

4. The First Amendment is one of the very best things about the United States.

Reply to FrodosPet (Original post)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 10:37 AM

Dec 2015

The thought of the authorities combing through social media posts so that they can criminally prosecute people who say mean things about a religion is just chilling.

madville

(7,412 posts)

5. Good thing we had a revolution

Reply to FrodosPet (Original post)

Tue Dec 15, 2015, 11:18 AM

Dec 2015

Would hate to live under that kind of oppression.

Reply to this discussion