A British pastor has won the right to preach on the streets again, three years after being warned by local police not to criticize other religions or preach without permission.
The controversy began a few years ago when Dear Moodley, a Bristol, England-based pastor and father of four, came to Avon Somerset to discuss an incident in which he was the subject of racial abuse. It started when I met with state police. Police then began monitoring his street preaching to monitor the situation.
Moodley’s lawyer said that during a 2021 interview with Moodley, police asked him to “comment on other religions or compare them to Christianity” and “to comment on the beliefs of atheists and people who believe in evolution.” It was forbidden to comment on the matter. Police said they were also prohibited from giving “sermons or religious speeches at any time or place without the prior consent and approval of Avon & Somerset Police”.
Mr Moodley then challenged the police order in support of legal representatives from ADF International and the Free Speech Coalition. Moodley’s lawyers argued that police violated his rights under the European Convention on Human Rights and discriminated against him by religion.
Police agreed to solve the case.
Moodley has been preaching on the city’s streets for at least five years.
“The Dear Moodley incident exposes a clear double standard in British policing when the issue is about the expression of core beliefs, particularly the Christian faith,” said ADF UK General Counsel. Jeremiah Igannubore said. “Bristol authorities were unabashed in demanding a preliminary review of Mr. Dear’s sermons and forbidding him from speaking about other religions, including atheism. In an attempt to define it, it blatantly restricted his freedom of religion and speech.”
Mr Moodley praised the settlement.
“It is not for the police to decide which religions and worldviews are free from criticism,” he said. “When I preach, I am dedicated to speaking about the good news of Christianity based on love, grace, and truth. But that doesn’t mean I never say things that others may disagree with. . The essence of a free and democratic society is that we can speak publicly about our beliefs.”
Image credits: ADF
Michael Faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His story was published in Baptist Press. Christianity Today, Christian Poecent, of leaf chronicle, of toronto star and of knoxville news sentinel.
