Labour-run council U-turns on Christian street preacher ban
A Labour-run council has about-turned on its attempts to ban Christian street preachers in a victory for free speech.
Rushmoor borough council, in Hampshire, sought an injunction in February that would have prohibited Christians preaching, praying and handing out leaflets in the town centres of Farnborough and Aldershot.
The local authority claimed preachers were being 'offensive' and caused 'alarm and distress' to passers-by.
But it has now withdrawn its application for an injunction after being accused of attempting to 'criminalise' Christians because the maximum sentence for breaching an injunction is two years' imprisonment.
Jamie Broadey, a preacher and evangelist, said it was 'highly concerning' that the council had attempted to acquire the injunction in the first place.
'We welcome the news that the council has withdrawn its application, but it is highly concerning that they made this attempt to criminalise the Christian faith in the first instance,' he said.
'When I first read the injunction I thought: 'They must have made a mistake.' I felt complete disbelief that it was saying that you can't have religious discussions, you can't pray or sing, and people have to come to you, you can't go to them and share the gospel which Christians have done freely in this country for centuries.'
Under the terms of the drafted injunction, Christians would have been banned from praying for anyone 'without their prior permission', offering leaflets or Bibles by hand and laying hands on anyone in prayer even if they consented.
Other proposed prohibitions included approaching people to discuss Christianity and the preaching of any sermons that were 'hostile towards anyone with the protected characteristic of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation'.
Sally McGuinness, a cleaner and street preacher, said the council had attempted to 'criminalise' her.
'If this had not been challenged and stopped in its tracks now, we have no doubts that the Christian faith would be criminalised in Aldershot and Farnborough,' she said.
'This would have been terrible for Christian freedoms and freedom in general in this country. We are still awaiting an apology from the council and assurances that nothing like this will ever happen again.'
The council's about-turn came after local Conservative councillors Gareth Lyon and Ade Adeola took up the preachers' case.
The council organised meetings with local ministers and preachers where the Christians' objections were heard.
In a statement, the council said it had discussed introducing a 'voluntary code of conduct' for street preachers to limit 'distress' caused to passers-by.
The preachers maintain that being seen as 'hostile' is unavoidable when attempting to convince non-believers of the truth of Christianity.
Cllr Lyon, leader of the Tory group on the council, said: 'I am delighted by the decision to withdraw the application for an injunction. It is absolutely the right decision.'
Cllr Gareth Williams, the leader of the council, added that he was 'pleased' to address a 'very sensitive issue'.
'I'm pleased that, following our discussions with the local Christian community and faith leaders, we have been able to address this very sensitive issue and agree a way forward that balances the rights to freedom of worship and expression with the interests of all town centre users,' he said.
Bishop Malcolm Cummins, a Pentecostal minister and chairman of the Rushmoor Faith Leaders Forum, said: 'We're relieved that our discussions with the council have proved constructive. We now look forward to working closely together to build even stronger relationships.'
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which supported the street preachers, added: 'We urge Christians to remain vigilant and prayerful, and to continue supporting efforts to ensure that the public square remains open to the gospel and to the free exchange of ideas.'
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