Politics
Monday December 12, 2005
UK Author, Broadcaster, Subjected to Police Inquiry for Criticizing Homosexual Adoption as “Homophobic”
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By Terry Vanderheyden
CAMRIDGE, UK, December 12, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A British author and broadcaster was the subject of a police inquiry after she criticized homosexual adoption in a live radio broadcast.
Lynette Burrows, a pro-family advocate, described the reaction to her comments as “sinister.” In a Radio Five Live show on the new civil partnerships act, Burrows said allowing a same-sex male couple to adopt a boy posed as much of a risk as allowing two heterosexual men to adopt a little girl. “It is a risk,” Burrows said, as reported by the Telegraph. “You would not give a small girl to two men.”
The police initiated an inquiry after a member of the public called complaining that her remarks were “homophobic.” The police contacted her the next day to tell her that a “homophobic incident” had been reported against her.
“I was astounded,” Burrows said. “I told her this was a free country and we are allowed to express opinions on matters of public interest. She told me it was not a crime but that she had to record these incidents. They were leaning on me, letting me know that the police had an interest in my views. I think it is sinister and completely unacceptable.”
Burrows is the author of Fight For The Family and the mother of six children.
Commenting on Canada’s passage of its homosexual hate-crimes law, Bill C-250 last year, the Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL) said that numerous assurances given by lawmakers that the new criminal charges would only apply to the most obnoxious or severe critics of homosexual behaviour seemed rather weak in light of efforts to limit the freedom of commentators around the world. CCRL outlined several examples where speech was curtailed because it was deemed hateful:
- In 2003, the Rt. Reverend Dr. Peter Forster, Anglican Bishop of Chester, England was investigated under hate crimes legislation and reprimanded by the local Chief Constable for observing that some people can overcome homosexual inclinations and “reorientate” themselves.
- In January of 2004, Swedish Pentecostal Pastor Ake Green was prosecuted for “hate speech against homosexuals” for a sermon he preached last summer citing Biblical references to homosexuality. He was acquitted last month by the country’s Supreme Court.
- Belgian Cardianal Gustaaf Joos faced a lawsuit under that country’s discrimination laws for his remarks about the nature of homosexuality and the Church’s teaching published in a Belgian magazine. (CWNews.com, 01/26/04)
- Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela of Madrid faced a suit in Spain for preaching against homosexuality in a homily he gave in the Madrid Cathedral on the feast of the Holy Family. (Washington Post, 01/03/04)
- And In Ireland, clergy and bishops were warned that the distribution of the Vatican’s publication on public recognition of same-sex relationships could face prosecution under Irish incitement to hatred legislation. (The Irish Times, 07/02/03)
Previous Canadian Catholic Civil Rights League President Tom Langan commented, “Are such expectations misguided? It remains to be seen. We have seen comments from leading Canadian gay advocates such as Rev. Brent Hawkes of the Metropolitan Community Church in Toronto in which he suggested last year that Vatican statements or a Catholic bishop’s commentary on homosexuality are ‘expressions of hatred.’ We suspect Canadians will soon discover the extent of the new peril imposed on their freedom of speech only after they receive that knock on the door to answer to the authorities.”
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Catholic League Notes Results of Homosexual Hate Crime Law in Other Countries as Warning to Canada
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/apr/04043006.html
Swedish Pastor Ake Green Acquitted of Hate Speech against Homosexuals
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/nov/05112902.html
See the Telegraph report:
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/12/10/ngay10.xml
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