THE PULPIT: Canadian judge overturns hate-crime ruling against pastor

Focus on the Family and other conservative Christian organizations warned that passage of hate crime laws in the U.S. that include protection for gays and transgendered people might lead to pastors being arrested for criticizing homosexuality.

Last year, a Canadian judge ruled that an Alberta pastor was guilty of a hate crime for criticizing homosexuality in a letter to a newspaper. The pastor  was to pay $5,000 in damages to the plaintiff, the Alberta Human Rights Commission, and cease from publicly criticizing same-sex relationships.

But this month Canadian Judge E.C. Wilson overturned the ruling, saying the pastor’s letter was permissible under the country’s freedom of speech ideals, the Christian Post reported.

The Canada case was watched closely by U.S. conservative Christian leaders, such as Focus founder James Dobson, because, they argued, American hate-crime laws could lead to lawsuits against pastors who condemn homosexuality from the pulpit.

You can read the Christian Post story here.

Colorado is one of 11 states that has adopted hate-crime laws that include crimes against gays and transgendered people.