If Gay Foreigners Can Sue U.S. Pastor Over Sermons, Who Is Safe?
Judge wants gay claim of “crime against humanity” proceed against Bible preaching
By Julio
Severo
WND has reported
about the plight of Rev. Scott Lively, author of “The Pink Swastika,” under lawsuit
from an African gay group because a homosexual leader in Uganda was murdered by
his male lover allegedly after a sermon by Lively.
This is right.
You have read correctly: an African gay activist was murdered by his own male
prostitute lover and an American minister is to blame. And incredibly, the US
judge has not tossed this ludicrous case.
 |
| Rev. Scott Lively |
But the ruling
from Judge Michael Posner in a case brought by Sexual Minorities Uganda against
Pastor Scott Lively of Abiding Truth
Ministries could mean much more. It could establish that an international
consensus disavowing long-held biblical standards could trump the U.S.
Constitution, said WND.
And because of
the massive US cultural influence around the world, it could open a dangerous precedent,
making Christians vulnerable to lawsuits by gay supremacists from other
nations. As a small sign of threats to come, last year PayPal
decided to close down my account after a campaign and pressure by AllOut,
an American gay group. In this case, a US gay group was able to close the
account of a Brazilian. If the homosexual case against Rev. Lively succeeds,
could AllOut and other American groups file similar lawsuits against me and
other Brazilians?
Eventually, the
UN system would get involved, regularizing “crime against humanity” and
prosecution of Christians charged under this label.
In its report,
WND also said,
SMUG alleges Lively must be punished for criticizing
homosexuality, calling his speech a “crime against humanity” in violation of
“international law.”
Lively’s attorney, Horatio Mihet of Liberty Counsel,
said his client’s preaching is protected by the Constitution.
The judge took nearly 80 pages to say that he thought
the allegations by SMUG were substantive and needed to be adjudicated.
The judge cited “many authorities” who “implicitly
support the principle that widespread, systematic persecution of individuals
based on their sexual orientation and gender identity constitutes a crime
against humanity.”
The judge argued that the idea that Lively’s
statements are protected under the First Amendment was “premature.”
The case against Lively claims that by speaking in
opposition to homosexuality, he was conspiring to deprive the plaintiffs of
their fundamental rights.
Lively’s attorneys have explained that SMUG’s attack
goes directly to the supremacy and portability of the U.S. Constitution.
“SMUG asks this United States court to punish one of
its citizens, Mr. Lively, for ‘crimes against humanity’ under an international
treaty that The United States has expressly rejected,” a court filing opposing
SMUG’s case explained.
“Moreover, what SMUG cavalierly and conclusorily
labels as ‘crimes against humanity’ – the most heinous of crimes – is actually
nothing more than civil, non-violent political discourse in the public square
on a subject of great public concern, which occupies the highest run of First
Amendment protection,” the brief said.
The action was prompted by Lively “sharing his
biblical views on homosexuality during a 2009 visit to Uganda.”
SMUG is represented by the George Soros-funded Center
for Constitutional Rights in New York, which even the New York Times described
as left-leaning.
“SMUG also does not tell the court that David Kato –
the murdered Ugandan activist whom SMUG makes the centerpiece of this lawsuit –
was killed not by an enraged homophobe incited by Mr. Lively’s protected
speech, but by a homosexual prostitute upset over a failed business
transaction.
“Neither does SMUG tell the court that the confessed
perpetrator of this horrible crime was tried and convicted in Ugandan courts,
and is now serving a 30-year prison sentence.
“And, finally, SMUG does not tell the court that, far
from inciting violence, Mr. Lively has consistently condemned acts of violence
and calls to violence in the strongest possible terms, and has praised the
Ugandan courts for imparting justice.”
Portuguese
version of this article: Se gays estrangeiros podem processar
pastor americano por causa de pregações, quem está seguro?
Source: Julio Severo in English: www.lastdayswatchman.blogspot.com
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