Friday, December 24, 2004
France, on the forefront of society
The Senate upper house passed the law on Wednesday. It had previously been approved in the National Assembly. Under the new law, anyone found to be provoking hatred or violence against a person on the basis of sex or sexual orientation would receive punishments of up to one year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros ($60,000). The law was proposed after a gay man was set on fire by assailants, an act that prompted a major outcry throughout the country.
Catholic bishops, clergy, and laity said they were worried that priests could be jailed for preaching the Church's teachings in homilies. Journalists also said they were in fear of prosecution for doing their jobs and the international group Reporters Without Borders said, "A society advances towards tolerance ... via freedom of expression and debate and not through repression."
Remember, in Sweeden(Norway?) they actually arrested a guy for preaching a sermon on Leviticus.
Catholic bishops, clergy, and laity said they were worried that priests could be jailed for preaching the Church's teachings in homilies. Journalists also said they were in fear of prosecution for doing their jobs and the international group Reporters Without Borders said, "A society advances towards tolerance ... via freedom of expression and debate and not through repression."
Remember, in Sweeden(Norway?) they actually arrested a guy for preaching a sermon on Leviticus.
