STOCKHOLM, Sweden - In a unanimous 5-0 decision, Sweden's Supreme Court today acquitted a pastor of a "hate crime" for presenting the biblical view of homosexual behavior in a sermon.
"Voicing one's conscience is a fundamental human right," said Alliance Defense Fund Chief Counsel Benjamin Bull. "This is a huge victory for religious liberty everywhere. In this contest between religious freedom and the radical homosexual agenda, religious freedom prevailed."
The pastor, Ake Green, received a one-month jail sentence last year under a Swedish "hate crimes" law that forbids criticism of those who participate in homosexual behavior. In February, the Goeta Appeals Court overturned the decision. The government appealed the case to the Swedish Supreme Court, but today it ruled that Green did not break the law.
"As David slew Goliath, Ake Green slew the radical homosexual agenda in this case," Bull said. "We can only hope this will deter other attempts to censor Christian ministers from delivering Bible-based messages against harmful homosexual conduct. Ake Green is a hero, and we are grateful for his stand and his perseverance."
Bull founded and then served for a number of years as director of a Europe-wide religious liberties legal organization based in Strasburg, France. He attended Green's trial Nov. 9 as an international observer. In April, Bull met with Green in Geneva, Switzerland, and counseled him with regard to his rights and international law.
ADF coordinated and funded the filing of friend-of-the-court briefs for the case as well as the translation of trial transcripts into English. Numerous international groups have used these ADF transcripts to prepare their friend-of-the-court briefs on Green's behalf. A link to a transcript of Ake Green's sermon can be found at
www.akegreen.org.
ADF is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.
www.telladf.org
Related Information
Supreme Court Ruling, 11.29.2005
Intermediate Appellate Court Ruling, 3.9.2005