The term ‘hate crime’ has become embedded in the public consciousness over the last few years.
Christians agree that hating others is wrong. Christ commands us to love our neighbour, no matter who they are.
But disagreement is not hatred. There are activists who want to use hate crime laws to punish those whose opinions differ from their own.
The Government’s hate crime Bill risks making this much easier.
References
- 1 Washington Post online, 30 November 2005, see http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/29/AR2005112901503_pf.html as at 28 July 2023
- 2 ADF International 26 June 2023, see https://adfinternational.org/paivi/ as at 28 July 2023; Päivi Räsänen tweet, 17 June 2019, see https://twitter.com/PaiviRasanen/status/1140693636176384011 as at 28 July 2023
- 3 CTV News, 28 June 2008, see http://www.ctvnews.ca/human-rights-complaint-against-maclean-s-dismissed-1.305350 as at 28 July 2023
- 4 The Age online, 1 June 2007, see https://www.theage.com.au/national/religious-battle-back-in-court-20070601-ge5176.html as at 28 July 2023
- 5 Ash, T G, Free Speech: Ten Principles for a Connected World, Atlantic Books, 2016, page 220
Attributions
- fp Woman: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/middle-age-hispanic-woman-standing-over-2292055821
- fp Hate crime Bill: https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/libraryResearch/2022/2022-12-15_bill-digest-criminal-justice-incitement-to-violence-or-hatred-and-hate-offences-bill-2022_en.pdf
- p2 Handcuffs: https://stock.adobe.com/uk/images/handcuff/53373487
- p2 Friends talking: https://www.123rf.com/photo_109041546_group-of-four-young-teenage-friends-talking-and-laughing-together-candid-real-people-filtered-image.html
- p2 Man preaching: https://www.lightstock.com/photos/man-preaching-a-sermon
- p2 Phone in hand: https://www.123rf.com/photo_37966495_female-holding-mobile-phone.html
- p3 Badge: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/hello-my-pronouns-they-them-button-2280376549
- p3 Department of Justice logo: https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-justice/#
- p3 Bible: https://pixabay.com/photos/bible-religion-christianity-gospel-879084/
- p3 Books: https://unsplash.com/photos/MiJTU6lqksg
- bp Swedish flag: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Sweden#/media/File:Flag_of_Sweden.svg
- bp Finnish flad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Finland#/media/File:Flag_of_Finland.svg
- bp Päivi Räsänen: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/P%C3%A4ivi_R%C3%A4s%C3%A4nen_2012.jpg
- bp Canadian Flag: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Canada#/media/File:Flag_of_Canada_(Pantone).svg
- bp Australian Flag: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Australia#/media/File:Flag_of_Australia_(converted).svg
- bp Timothy Garton Ash: https://flic.kr/p/6A4rVH
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