JOHANNESBURG, Feb 7 (LifeSiteNews) – A new law in South Africa called the “Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act” threatens to make criminals of pro-life and pro- family supporters and of Christians generally. The law, pushed through by the African National Congress and signed by President Thabo Mbeki last Thursday, is second in importance only to the country’s constitution and thus supercedes all other laws. The Conservative News Service reports that under the Act, equality courts will be set up to enforce the law’s provisions against discrimination on the grounds of “race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, color, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth.”
The legislation holds those accused as guilty until they prove their innocence in the courts. CNS indicates that speech intended to be hurtful, incite harm, or promote or propagate hatred is banned.
The mixed-race African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) which objects to the law told CNS that the inclusion of “sexual orientation” could lead to a pastor being forced to defend himself in court over refusing to “marry” homosexual couples. ACDP spokesperson Christine Herselman added that “pregnancy (including termination of pregnancy)” would make a public pro-life stance risky if not arguably illegal. Kerselman also said that the exclusivity and absolutism of Christianity may also be called into question.
For more see the CNS story.