A Swedish preacher sentenced to a month in prison for referring to homosexuals as a “cancerous tumor” in society was acquitted Feb. 11 by an appeals court.
The court in Jonkoping, in southern Sweden, ruled that a sermon by Ake Green, 63, was not an attack on gays and lesbians because it was a personal interpretation of the Bible.
The court said it “strongly questioned” Green's comments but a stringent hate crime law under which the preacher was convicted last year should not be used to stifle discussion about homosexuality in churches and other public places.
“There is nothing that points to that fact that the pastor used the pulpit to attack homosexuals,” the verdict read.
“This falls outside of punishment for violating the law against hate against a group.”
The case, which has attracted international attention, could still move to the Supreme Court in Sweden. Some Christians in the United States have said they were worried that Green, the first preacher convicted under the hate crime law, could represent a trend in laws cracking down on people of faith expressing religious views about homosexuality.
The hate crime law was initially designed to protect racial and religious groups, among others. In 2003, it was changed to include homosexuals.
In Sweden, Green's supporters praised Friday's ruling.
Lars Ivar Nilsson, a Pentecostal leader, told journalists that even though he did not entirely support Green's comments during his sermon, he felt that the verdict was a “real and important” victory for freedom of religion and speech.
Religion News Service