Here's a frightening sign of the times. A Christian couple in England is hauled into court to face charges of "committing a religiously aggravated public order offence" because they dared to defended Christianity to a Muslim woman.
No punches were thrown. No discrimination was tendered. There was no real crime here -- only an argument (balanced and courteous, the kind that people used to engage in all the time) about religious differences. But because the waves of silly and unjust political-correctness have swamped the Crown Prosecution Service, innkeepers Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang faced a £5,000 fine and a permanent criminal record (with all the attendant economic and social consequences) because they contrasted Christianity to Islam in an open conversation with someone who gave a spirited defense of her own beliefs.
A judge in a Liverpool court has found the couple innocent of the charges. This time.
But the 9-month ordeal has shattered their lives nevertheless.
"A major client of the couple’s hotel ceased referring guests because of the allegations. This has led to an 80 per cent drop in the hotel’s income, leaving the couple in financial difficulty."
And the prosecutors, have they apologized and have they learned a lesson from this fiasco?
Nicky Inskip, of the Crown Prosecution Service defended its actions saying: “We were satisfied that there was sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction that a religiously aggravated offence should be charged."
Which means -- "You share your Christian faith in public and we may d--- well come after you again."
And so goes religious freedom down the drain in the U.K.
(Thanks for the alert, Greg.)
