WHY THIS PREACHER WOULDN’T SUE AFTER A NIGHT IN THE CELLS

It was disgraceful that a Christian street preacher was arrested for expressing biblical convictions in Workington town centre, Cumbria. But is he right to sue the police? This preacher would suggest not.

In its latest update, The Christian Institute reports on the decision by the preacher, Dale Mcalpine, to pursue a civil action against both the arresting officer and the Chief Constable. Mike Judge’s excellent report also recaps on the incident back in April:

Dramatic video footage of Mr Mcalpine’s arrest was captured on a hidden camera and has been viewed over 23,000 times on the internet.

The video shows Mr Mcalpine behaving calmly and reasonably, appealing for police to consider his free speech rights.

But police officers are heard saying they are ‘pretty sure’ it is a crime to call homosexual conduct a ‘sin’ and wrongfully arrested Mr Macapline for a ‘racially’ aggravated public order offence.

Mike Judge’s report continues:

He was held in a police cell for several hours and charged with committing a crime, even though his comments were not illegal.

The charges were dropped after lawyers paid for by The Christian Institute sent a strongly-worded letter to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Why wouldn’t cc sue?

· There is plenty of mileage for the gospel in pursuing the grievance through the Independent Police Complaints Commission. A high profile case such as this one, which has attracted significant media interest, already has momentum behind it. The publicity surrounding the progress of a formal complaint to the IPCC ensures that police officers and indeed the public are better educated about the growing politically-correct threat to Christian freedom of expression. And such an approach does not involve any possible compensation payment by the UK taxpayer. If the police fail to take satisfactory action, an ongoing, philanthropic campaign keeps the issue of Christian free speech in the spotlight.

· Suing panders to the burgeoning victim culture in post-Christian society. Your curate certainly would not enjoy a night in the cells but Christ’s Apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for Christ’s Name (cf Acts 5v41). Paul and Silas suffered grievous bodily harm when they were wrongfully arrested in Philippi. A night in the cells, whilst no fun, is pretty tame in comparison to the severe beating they suffered.

· The 19th century precedent in England of Bible-believing Christians using the law courts over religious issues is an unfortunate one. Evangelicals seeking to suppress the growing tendency towards ritualism in the Church of England came off badly in the public perception for using the law courts.

Suing the police would appear vindictive and self-serving whereas a campaign for Christian free speech by an individual who has suffered an injustice surely better serves the gospel of the Suffering Servant.