The Ultimate Result of "Hate Speech" Laws

I have never been a fan of "Hate Crime" legislation. When one person murders another, a crime has been committed. Why tack on a subjective judgement such as whether or not the crime was done with hateful intent? Where will such accusations eventually take us? 

The answer my friends can be found in the following report from across the Atlantic in The Times, 

 Children are among thousands of people being investigated by police for non-crime hate incidents, The Times can reveal.

Police forces recorded incidents against a nine-year-old who called a primary school classmate a “retard” and against two secondary school girls who said that another pupil smelt “like fish”.

Every kid in my school got called that and worse when I was in K-12 Episcopal schools.   

They were among several cases of children being logged as having committed non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs), according to freedom of information requests to police forces.

Government guidance says that NCHIs are supposed to be recorded for incidents “clearly motivated by intentional hostility” and where there is a real risk of escalation “causing significant harm or a criminal offence”. Classroom incidents that do not amount to crimes are not supposed to be recorded, and neither are incidents involving journalists expressing lawfully held views with no hostility.

However, The Times has found evidence of widespread confusion among police over what types of incident should be recorded.

No 10 said that the Home Office would review its guidance to protect “the fundamental right to free speech” after the journalist Allison Pearson claimed she was being investigated over an NCHI. Essex police say this is inaccurate and have defended their handling of the case.

However, data collected by The Times shows the recording of NCHIs is widespread. More than 13,200 hate incidents were recorded in the 12 months to June this year, according to statistics from 45 of Britain’s 48 police forces.

Critics have asked whether the recording of non-crime hate incidents is an appropriate use of police resources, particularly in cases involving children...

...Lord Macdonald of River Glaven, a former director of public prosecutions added: “Five years down the line, when they apply for a job, they might not get it. And that might be as a result of a so-called non-crime hate incident recorded against their name that was entirely baseless, entirely motivated by spite or misunderstanding or whatever.

“I mean, the idea that the police are recording the name of a child because that child has described another child as smelling like a fish is just beyond belief.”

Yep, this is where all "hate" legislation eventually leads.

Words of Warning

This Sunday's reading is Mark 13:1-8,

As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’ Then Jesus asked him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’

 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?’ Then Jesus began to say to them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

The Temple was thrown down, and the birth pangs of the early Church were dreadful. 

Wars and famines keep coming and going.

Being led astray happens all the time. A good defense against false shepherds, prophets, teachings, interpretations, and denominations is to build biblical literacy, and to engage in Bible study with other orthodox Christians. 

Don't Expect Any Change

Justin Welby has resigned as Archbishop of Canterbury, and it wasn't because Trump won, or was it? I don't expect any improvement with the next one whoever it may be.

 Statement from the Archbishop of Canterbury

12/11/2024

Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty The King, I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Makin Review has exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth.

When I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow. 

It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013 and 2024. 

It is my duty to honour my Constitutional and church responsibilities, so exact timings will be decided once a review of necessary obligations has been completed, including those in England and in the Anglican Communion. 

I hope this decision makes clear how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church. As I step down I do so in sorrow with all victims and survivors of abuse. 

The last few days have renewed my long felt and profound sense of shame at the historic safeguarding failures of the Church of England. For nearly twelve years I have struggled to introduce improvements. It is for others to judge what has been done.

In the meantime, I will follow through on my commitment to meet victims. I will delegate all my other current responsibilities for safeguarding until the necessary risk assessment process is complete.

I ask everyone to keep my wife Caroline and my children in their prayers. They have been my most important support throughout my ministry, and I am eternally grateful for their sacrifice. Caroline led the spouses’ programme during the Lambeth Conference and has travelled tirelessly in areas of conflict supporting the most vulnerable, the women, and those who care for them locally.

I believe that stepping aside is in the best interests of the Church of England, which I dearly love and which I have been honoured to serve. I pray that this decision points us back towards the love that Jesus Christ has for every one of us. 

For above all else, my deepest commitment is to the person of Jesus Christ, my saviour and my God; the bearer of the sins and burdens of the world, and the hope of every person.

Things of Value

 This Sunday's reading is Mark 12:38-44,

As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’

Jesus turned the ancient world on its head with these two observations of human behavior, and the divine judgement if each. 

His words are just as true today as our celebrity engrossed culture needs to beware of the rich and famous, many of whom went out of their way to try to influence our last election. How often those celebs show up in their designer attire, and are seated in places of honor.

But the first shall be last, and the last shall be first.

 

 

Prayer for an election

 In the back of the 2019 ACNA Book of Common Prayer you can find prayer #31, "For an election."

Let us pray, 

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers

and privileges: Guide and direct, we humbly pray, the minds

of all those who are called to elect fit persons to serve in

the United States of America. Grant that in the exercise of our choice we may

promote your glory, and the welfare of this nation. This we ask

for the sake of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

"There is no other commandment greater than these"

 This Sunday's reading is from Mark 12:28-34,

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbour as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.

Is it humanly possible to keep these commandments all the time?

I think not, and that is why we need a Savior.