Lords ruling on Springer blasphemy ‘will bring judgment’

Mar 5 2008 by David Williamson, Western Mail

LAW LORDS have refused to hear a blasphemy case concerning the musical Jerry Springer – The Opera.

A House of Lords Appeal Committee rejected a petition to appeal from Stephen Green, national director of Christian Voice, on the grounds it was not of “general public importance”.

Mr Green from Pen-y-bont, near Carmarthen, said the ruling would “bring down the judgment of God on us all”.

The controversial opera drew protests when it was broadcast by the BBC and performed at the Wales Millennium Centre in June 2006.

It was condemned at the time by Archbishop of Wales Barry Morgan, who said, “The producer of this opera says that if he manages to incite religious hatred, then the opera has done its job. I think that is a terrible intention for an opera to have.

“I have seen bits of it on the television and it really is blasphemous. It really does belittle the Christian faith and if something like this was produced about the Prophet Muhammad there would be a riot.”

But Lord Bingham, heading a panel of three Law Lords, said, “Permission is refused because the petition does not raise an arguable point of law of general public importance which ought to be considered by the House at this time, bearing in mind that the cause has already been the subject of judicial decision and reviewed on appeal.”

Westminster Magistrates refused to issue a summons for a private prosecution against Mark Thompson of the BBC and the show’s producer, Jonathan Thoday.

The High Court rejected a request for judicial review of that ruling in December 2007.

Christian Voice said the decision of the Law Lords at the highest court in the land meant the case was now at an end.

“It means there is no redress in British law against those who portrayed Jesus Christ on stage and on the BBC as an infantile coprophiliac, told by the character of Jerry Springer in the show to ‘Grow up for Christ’s sake and put some f****** clothes on.’

“Apparently Jesus Christ, Mary, the mother of the Lord, and Almighty God may now be ridiculed and insulted on stage and by broadcasters free from the sanctions of the law.”

Mr Green said, “Contrary to the finding of these Law Lords, it is indeed a matter of great general public importance at this very time that the almighty creator of the universe and the saviour of mankind have been insulted and vilified in this United Kingdom.

“It brings down the judgment of God on us all. I love my neighbour and I do not want that to happen.

“Christians will now have to take matters into their own hands when Christ is insulted on stage and on screen.

“As it happens, our campaign against the theatre tour of Jerry Springer The Opera was highly successful, by the grace of God.

“Blasphemy isn’t going to happen on stage in the United Kingdom, it’s just that unless and until this loophole is closed, Christians will have to find avenues other than those of the law.”

Mr Green, who has previously been arrested for distributing homophobic material at Cardiff’s Mardi Gras, added, “To be frank, the decision of their Lordships Bingham, Hoffman and Hope is a blatant, shameless political manoeuvre by a God-defying elite intent on looking after their own.

“Lord Hoffman in particular has voted in the House of Lords for no-fault divorce and for gay rights. A judge like that would always be prejudiced against those seeking to uphold righteousness.

“Furthermore, and in retrospect, it seems there was no way the establishment could countenance the Director-General of the BBC appearing in the dock accused of blasphemy.”