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vangelical activist David Smyth and barrister Gavin Millar were reacting to a little-noticed assertion by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which its lawyers set before the courts during an attempt to prosecute a street preacher.
But whilst both of the men above criticised the CPS’ statement, it has stirred precisely zero reaction from the major churches in Northern Ireland and in England (see below).
– HOW IT ALL BEGAN –
The story all stems from a confrontation between a man called John Dunn, a soldier-turned-evangelist, and two lesbians.
It took place on the streets of Swindon two years ago.
Mr Dunn was charged with using “threatening or abusive words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby”.
It was alleged he shouted that the women would “burn in hell” and called one of them a “devil woman”.
Mr Dunn denied this, though his lawyers at the Christian Legal Centre said he acknowledged telling them: “It says in the Bible that homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God”.
According to Mr Dunn’s lawyers, the case against him was discontinued during this week because the complainants could not be reached.
While pressing their case against him though, the CPS said the following in writing to the court:
“Whether a statement of Christian belief or not, the court is being asked to consider whether the language has the potential to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
