Tony Miano is a street evangelist. He is also a retired veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. During his career, he has served as a gang and juvenile crime investigator, field training officer, drug recognition expert, and a DUI enforcement specialist. According to his biography, he has 'received more than 60 commendations and citations for meritorious service, arrests, criminal investigations, and community service'.

He knows a thing or two about the law.

Mr Miano has recently been out preaching in Wimbledon. He very much enjoys biblical evangelism, speaking about spiritual growth, personal holiness and the person and work of Jesus Christ. On Monday, his theme was sexual immorality - all forms (1Thess 4:1-12). He talked about sin - heterosexual and homosexual - without discrimination. As he was preaching, a lady heard him say that homosexuality was a sin, and promptly summoned the police, who duly arrived.

Mr Miano was then arrested for violating Section 5 of the Public Order Act: he was accused of using homophobic speech likely to cause anxiety, distress, alarm or insult.

He was escorted to Wimbledon police station, where he was photographed, finger-printed and had a DNA sample taken. He was then incarcerated in a cell for seven hours.

And he was interrogated about his faith in Jesus Christ.

He was asked if he believed homosexuality was a sin. He was asked from which portion of the Bible he was preaching. Incredibly, he was asked whether, if a homosexual was hungry and walked up to him, he would give them something to eat.

He was then informed that there was sufficient evidence from his responses to forward his case to the CPS, and that the judge could order him to remain in the country for 4-5 months while his case came to trial.

Even before Parliament has legislated for same-sex marriage, we see the threat to religious liberty. Not since 1559 has there been an Act of Uniformity requiring everyone to assent to a particular worldview, and it took more than 300 years to eradicate that. But now we have a new Act of Uniformity which elevates equality and sexual orientation to a quasi-religious status which trumps any religious worldview which opposes it. It is secular pluralism by statute law.

Christians are harassed, intimidated, persecuted and interrogated. What manner of inquisition is it that asks: "If a homosexual was hungry and walked up to you, would you give them something to eat?"

And what manner of theological ignorance is it which has no grasp of the Christian divine command to love your neighbour by giving them food (Mt 25:35); or any understanding of the fundamental liberty to preach liberty to the captives?

bbauska wrote:What sort of "tolerance" is being exhibited here? He gives his opinion, and does not discriminate through his actions in any way. Is the UK government being intolerant, Danivon? You are there, what is your opinion?

danivon wrote:

bbauska wrote:What sort of "tolerance" is being exhibited here? He gives his opinion, and does not discriminate through his actions in any way. Is the UK government being intolerant, Danivon? You are there, what is your opinion?

Not seen the video linked to, so cannot comment on it. We do not have the First Amendment here, and I haven't seen the other side of the story.

He'd have been fine at Speaker's Corner.

bbauska wrote:Wasn't talking legally, as I know you do not have US Constitution rights. I was talking tolerance of differing opinions, and is that a UK trait (generally speaking)?

danivon wrote:

bbauska wrote:Wasn't talking legally, as I know you do not have US Constitution rights. I was talking tolerance of differing opinions, and is that a UK trait (generally speaking)?

Well I was going on the subject of the thread. I think it's quite intolerant to stand on street corners and shout at people about them being sinners. Apparently that's actually tolerance, and merely disagreeing with someone's dogmatic 'moral' position on a webforum is not.

Going by Miano's claims it seems like the police over-reacted, but the again all I see is his claims (and repeats of them by his friends and allies). Perhaps there was a concern about public order, but without a more complete picture, who can be sure?

danivon wrote:I have given my genuine response to what I've seen. As and when I see more I may well indeed add to that. I did start to watch the youtube video you posted but it was late so I needed to get some sleep. All I saw was Miano talking about it. I believe there is to be a video of the actual event, but he's discussing a Christian legal group here about making it public.

As in the Zimmerman court case, I'm leery of accepting as truth what witnesses say. Even without intent to mislead, such things can be subjective. Was Miano only reading verses from the Bible, or was he actually expounding on them, and in doing so what was he actually saying (and how was he saying it)?

Last year three Muslims were convicted were jailed for anti-homosexual leaflets they put out in Derby.

DERBY, England, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Three Muslims received sentences of up to two years in prison in England for handing out leaflets calling for the death penalty for homosexuality.

danivon wrote:Also to show that it's not only Christians who flout the law.

Do you think it was right for those Muslims to be jailed? If so, where would you put the line that they crossed, and should it apply to everyone?