Protestant minister defiant over gay advert
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
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The Minister of the Sandown Free Presbyterian Church has accused the Advertising Standards Authority of putting the church on trial.
In August the Belfast Telegraph reported that several complaints had been lodged with the watchdog about a full page 540-word ad which had been placed by the church in the News Letter the day before the annual Gay Pride Parade.
The ad described homosexuality as an abomination, defined homosexuals as perverts and called on religious followers to maintain a very public stance against the gay community in defiance of the parade which it claimed celebrated a “profitable lifestyle”.
The ad appeared on Friday, August 1, following months of controversy surrounding comments made by DUP MP Iris Robinson. The ASA said it received seven complaints from individuals who thought the advertisement was homophobic and was likely to provoke hatred and violence against the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
Following a four month investigation, the body concluded that the advertisement was indeed homophobic and therefore breached clause 5.1 of the CAP Code (decency). However, it said the advertisement was unlikely to provoke hatred or violence.
It has ordered that the ad not appear in its current form again and requested the church seek advice or approval from the body before publishing any other ads of that nature.
The Rev David McIlveen said that while he was pleased the ASA had upheld the church’s position that it did not promote hatred or violence he disputed it breached the decency clause. He argued that the church had the right to print the ad because someone had displayed a placard saying Jesus was a homosexual at last year’s Gay Pride parade.
“They treated this as a trial,” he told the Belfast Telegraph last night. “In an effort to show that we have breached that code they highlighted the text we used from Leviticus Ch 18 v 22. Our determination from that is that you can not quote scripture because it is deemed as offensive. Well, we see this as a serious offence.”
Mr McIlveen also defended the language used in the ad saying that people in Northern Ireland would be “familiar” with it in light of the long-running radio debate over the summer. He also questioned the ASA’s credibility, arguing that seven complaints did not mean a majority of readers.
A spokeswoman from the ASA defended its decision saying that the body only needs one complaint to launch an investigation and can make a ruling based on this one complaint. She said this was to prevent further offence if the ad had deemed to be offensive.
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44 Comments
Tell me, if gay isn't normal, why does this abnormality tend to exist in about 8% of the population (don't quote me)? In addition, why is it that this Church needs to spend such a large amount of money (£20,000 as suggested) on such an article? Fair enough if the Church feels that homosexuality is wrong- they are indeed entitled to their own views. But to spend £20,000 on asking some people to join them on a protest- which I'm sure not many people did? Does this not seem like an unchristian thing to do? To spend so much money on this, and hence deny that money for another cause? A more important cause? Perhaps like a Christmas Appeal in Northern Ireland, to give those impoverished Children something to look forward to at Christmas. It just seems extremely hypocritical to spend all that money on such a trivial matter. And would someone form this Church please respond to numerous peoples' comments on the hypocrisy of taking some text from Lev. whilst ignoring other ones?
Posted by BT Reader | 04.12.08, 22:32 GMT
Good on the ASA bringing these crazy religious zealots to book for that very offensive advertisement. I am a heterosexual woman and have many gay friends. I would like to ask the Reverand McIlveen and Dr Ian Paisley to get a life and desist from their campaign of persecuting and harassing all my lovely gay friends. If they want to highlight immorality in this society then there is plenty of it around within the heterosexual community. I know of so many one parent families that have lots of children with so many different fathers that all brazenly scrounge off the state and contribute nothing positive to society. All my gay friends have jobs, work v hard, pay their taxes, don't overbreed and are lovely people to know and contribute something positive to society !!
Posted by LINDA | 04.12.08, 21:59 GMT
I came to this thread via Anglican mainstream, All power to your courageous church minister ! More and more it seems, we are prevented from saying how we feel about this perverted and disease ridden sexual practice.!
Posted by ray douglas | 04.12.08, 11:21 GMT
amazing the ignorance of some posters on here whilst there are a few actually enlightened Christians as well.
Richardson- yes homosexuality is found in the animal kingdom and has been witnesses and recorded in most large mammal species. get your facts right sunshine.
Terry- refreshing to hear. If the church got rid of the old testament instead of defending as true the nonsense that is within it maybe they may have more followers
Alex- apart from having an apt surname you are so wrong on many levels
Posted by soarer | 04.12.08, 10:01 GMT
The church has a right to speak out against sin if the Bible condemns it. Previous generations had no qualms with the church doing this, but today's generation wants the church to remain silent on moral issues. The church is the moral compass of our society and and must continue to speak God's Word even if it's not popular.
Posted by MRB | 04.12.08, 04:03 GMT
To Everyone,
To those who say God and the Bible are not fact, I ask them to prove otherwise...and to those who say God and the Bible , I ask them also to prove otherwise.....
Posted by Matt | 03.12.08, 22:45 GMT
It is time the Free Presbyterian Church and certain upstarts within the DUP brought themselves into the 21st century and realised that diversity exists in Northern Ireland. Their unrelenting attacks and persecution of people that happen to be born gay (just because their bible tells them so) is tiresome and pathetic. Shame on them !!!!
Posted by TRACY | 03.12.08, 22:25 GMT
From someone who has had dealings with the advertising business I can tell you that the ad placed by the Kirk Session of the Sandown Road Free Presbyterian Church would have cost in excess of £20,000.....
Posted by Terry | 03.12.08, 20:47 GMT
I never thought the day would come when a church would have to face future censure for breach of decency, however, I fully support the ASA for taking this indecent religous sect to task!
Posted by Mr.P | 03.12.08, 20:25 GMT
Since these people term themselves "Christian" is it not interesting that they conveniently ignore the fact that nowhere in the New Testament is Jesus quoted on the subject of homosexuality? If homosexuality is such an "abomination" one would have thought that Jesus would have condemned it in the most specific terms. Also, why do these "Christians" seem to draw almost all their guidance on sin etc, from the Old Testament, which very many real Christians, myself included, regard largely as little more than myths and legends.
Posted by Terry | 03.12.08, 18:14 GMT
As a Christian we must take God's Word seriously, we are to love our neighbour as ourselves. But what does this mean? If the Bible is true and homosexuality is a sin, is it not the duty of every Christian to speak the truth in LOVE? I believe God allows us to make a free choice but we are accountable. As a Evangelist in Dublin and in Graz I have spoken to many homosexuals and have only once see someone get angry. I did show them what the Bible says. I know a number of former homosexuals who now are very commited Christians and are now married with lovely wives and children.
Posted by Paul | 03.12.08, 17:39 GMT
People are leaving churches because churches do stand for God's Word. NOW is the time when the Church has to come back to her Master! Well done Rev McIlveen. THANK YOU for the example. It MUST be followed.
Posted by Alex Spak | 03.12.08, 17:35 GMT
I have no problem with peoples way of life or the choices they make in their life.What concerns me if someone has a point of view or opinion that someone puts forward then an individual does't agree and complains an investigation is underway asap.where is our democratic right and freedom to express our opinions.LETS ALL JUST GET OFFENDED
Posted by james | 03.12.08, 17:27 GMT
How nice that the ASA can protect us from hearing any opinions that its members do not happen to share. This particular opinion is probably held by well over half the population, despite relentless propaganda and the stifling of any expression to the contrary.
We urgently need freedom of speech laws in this country. As it stands, none of us are free to say anything with which the establishment decides to take exception.
Posted by Roger | 03.12.08, 16:47 GMT
I did not see the advert so I cannot comment on it in itself. What strikes me though is the great inconsistency in the UK. The BASA vetos a short ad because it breached guidelines on causing offence. The BBC (and other parties concerned) had no problem in offending and deeply hurting thousands of people when they screened a two hour long production that ridiculed Christ and suggested that he had homosexual tendencies. What it shows is that by rejecting God and His standards society has no objective measure for morality and ethics. Evangelical Christians therefore come under the most condemnation when they suggest there is such an objective standard and it does not matter if they do this harshly or tenderly. Free speech is only allowed to those who advocate obsenities. The Jonathan Ross saga is another example of this abscence of morality in the BBC and the media watchdogs. If Christians aired Biblical views on societies evils (even with clean language) they would quickly be censored.
Posted by Chris Nel | 03.12.08, 16:33 GMT
Well done to the Free P's for taking a stand for God and the Bible. All the people who have slated the Free P's do not realise that the Free P's are only saying what the Bible says. The Bible clearly states God's stand on homosexuality. So their grumbling is not with the Free P's, it's with God!
Posted by Craig | 03.12.08, 16:26 GMT
Rev McIlveen would do well to remember the bible is over 2000 years old and things have moved on. Or does he still think slavery should be tolerated? Is it OK to kill my neighbour for working on the sabbath? Funny how some people can just pick the bits out of the bible that suit!!
Posted by bannside | 03.12.08, 16:04 GMT
It's sobering to see that bigotry is alive and well and living in Northern Ireland. So tolerant? So forgiving? So Christian?
Posted by David F | 03.12.08, 16:00 GMT
Chris C
I have to say I am very sceptical that people would be rushing to church if it s wasnt for such stories as these.
As a rule of thumb churches that move their teaching to accomdoate changing public opinion tend to die off.
In contrast, churches which have something different to offer, ie a traditional Christian viewpoint, tend to thrive.
This is a worldwide trend which you can check out for yourself.
How many people with liberal viewpoints are really going to waste their time going to a church that will affirm them in their views? Very, very few.
Posted by Observer | 03.12.08, 15:30 GMT
I am beginning to think that the Belfast Telegraph should have a religious section. After news articles like this appear there is an unbelievable influx of posts defending "our faith" from the "sinners".
I can guarantee that the majority of "religious" posters are hypocrites to their own faith.
Use whatever crutch you need to get through life or follow what ever religion or superstition you wish, calling someone an abomination because "He said so" is just wrong. Opinions only count when the person who brought the opinion forward can justify it for Himself without his "mates" attempting to do it for "Him".
Posted by PC | 03.12.08, 15:21 GMT
44 Comments