A statement by the UK’s main prosecution service that it is “no longer appropriate” to read parts of the Bible aloud in public [1] has been dubbed “ill-judged” and “concerning”.
David Smyth of the Evangelical Alliance in Northern Ireland was reacting to a little-noticed statement from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), made during a recent attempt to prosecute a street preacher.
John Dunn, a soldier-turned-evangelist, was arrested in Swindon two years ago after exchanging words with two lesbians on the subject of homosexuality.
While pressing their case against him though, the CPS said: “Whether a statement of Christian belief or not, the court is being asked to consider whether the language has the potential to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
“There are references in the bible which are simply no longer appropriate in modern society and which would be deemed offensive if stated in public.”
David Smyth said it is not the role of the CPS “to govern what is ‘appropriate’ or ‘offensive’”.
“These comments are unwise and concerning, revealing a lack of understanding and faith literacy.”