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They have taken on Jerry Springer: The Opera, the BBC and are now are planning to tackle abortion clinics. So who are Christian Voice?
Plenty of people have things to say about Christian Voice. John Cryer, MP, called them "fundamentalist thugs". The moderator of the United Reformed church calls them "a disgrace".
Their controversial protests against the "blasphemy" of Jerry Springer: The Opera involved publishing the home phone numbers of BBC executives. They also persuaded cancer charity Maggie's Centres to turn down a £3,000 donation from the show, threatening demonstrations.
Now they are planning to take on abortion clinics. So who is behind this group?
They are a small protest network, led by Stephen Green who describes himself as ex-Anglican and ex-building trade.
The heart of his mission is to return Britain to the 1950s. Back then, he says, it was a Christian country. Ever since, it has been turning away from God and sinking into immorality. Mr Green says he can cite 57 laws that have corrupted Britain in that time.
The "blasphemy and profanity" exemplified by Jerry Springer: The Opera are only two of his concerns. Others include familiar evangelical targets such as divorce and homosexuality; he has a particular concern over gay police. Less obvious enemies include globalisation, GM crops and the EU ("an antichrist totalitarian regime").
This kind of treatment is exactly what our Lord Jesus Christ said that those who follow him should expect
Stephen Green
He is currently angered by the royal wedding, which he condemns, whether in church or registry office.
"Colonel and Mrs Parker Bowles should have been divorced for adultery, but they weren't because that would have been too embarrassing," he says. "So in the eyes of God they are still married."
He likens Christian Voice to John the Baptist who preached against the incestuous marriage of King Herod.
"We're saying to the Prince of Wales: 'You cannot have your brother's wife.' This woman is still married to someone else."
Mr Green has been leading Christian Voice for more than a decade, without causing much of a stir, and became its first full-time employee only 15 months ago.
He is cagey about membership figures, but indicates that they are more than 600. By way of comparison, the Evangelical Alliance lobby group represents about a million Christians.
Notoriety
The new prominence of Christian Voice seems to be largely a matter of good luck and good timing, although depending on your position it may be the influence of the good Lord.
It had previously led anti-blasphemy campaigns targeting the BBC, the Sunday Mirror, Peter Tatchell, and the play Corpus Christi.
But in complaining about Jerry Springer, it had an enemy that caught the imaginations and consciences of a large number of Christians, so it was able - by a viral e-mail and letter campaign - to mobilise the phones of many people not usually connected with Christian Voice.
Mr Green has then multiplied the impact of that campaign through the offence caused by his choice of soft targets. First Christian Voice gained major media coverage when it was reported that BBC executives received death threats after he published their home numbers.
Now the cancer charity Maggie's Centres has turned down a donation from the opera, and Christian Voice is heard loud and clear again.
The publicity that came to Christian Voice over the reported death threats was obviously unintended, but Mr Green is clearly eager to capitalise on his notoriety, using it to get his anti-abortion protest on the front pages.
Yet, when I suggest to him that Springer has been good for Christian Voice, he is ambivalent. He does not seem to have been inundated with money and new members, but has had plenty of threats and abuse over the phone. (Mr Green's website is, to be fair, as free with his own phone number as he was with others'.)
"This kind of treatment is exactly what our Lord Jesus Christ said that those who follow him should expect," he says.
On the other hand, when I tell him of John Cryer's statement that Christian Voice are "fundamentalist thugs", he seems rather to relish this kind of persecution.
'Disrepute'
"He ought to wash his mouth out with soap and water," he declares. "He should withdraw those comments or resign. He brings politics into disrepute."
But he talks neither in anger or sadness - he laughs heartily and seems to be enjoying himself.
Mr Green disapproves of teaching about other religions in school and especially the celebration of Diwali.
Nevertheless, he has some admiration for Sikh protests in Birmingham against the play Behzti, but says Christian Voice "don't throw stones through theatre windows".
Would he draw the line at breaking the law? Green answers thoughtfully: "Yes... unless the law contravenes the law of God."
What a wonderful miracle if only we could look through each other's eyes for an instant.
Thoreau
Written by: ado-p
I believe Jesus was one of the greatest people who ever lived, along with moses, buddha, mohammed and a few others. I imagine he is turning in his grave when he beholds the hatred and disrespect some of his followers of today are propagating in his name.
Written by: biggins
brit - joe. i dont mind you having problems with other ppl and their actions so long as you do it in the privacy of youor own home.
seriously dude, some of the things you say i interpret as borderline homophobia and bigotry. if ppl are kissing in public then donot look and wanna go dogging or whatever in the car parks at night thwn why should you care? do you live in that car park? why does it bother you when its their choice. be thankful u live in the UK and you are allowed the freedom (at the momoent) to do what yoou wanna do and other ppl have that right too. plenty of ppl in this world dont.
Chief adviser to the Pharaoh, in one very snazzy mutli-coloured coat
'Time goes by so slowly for those who wait...' - Whatever Happend To Baby Madonna?
Written by: Brit_Joe
For instance, what do you think would have happend if a victorian school boy had told his Maths teacher to go and himself? Now think what happens now. Did they get away with that unacceptable behavior 100 years ago? No. Do they now? Yes they do
Written by: Brit_Joe
A!nd to add insult to injury they accuse the teacher of sexual harrasment or assault if they try to lead them out of the classroom, and ruin the life and reputation of that fellow human being, for what? The fun of it?
Written by: Brit_Joe
what with children as young as 11 braking into cars, joy ridding, asbos, spitting at people, spitting on the streets (oh my god thats just foul!)...god I could go on and write a list as long as your arm and not run out of things to put.
Written by:Written by: toobieWritten by: Brit_Joe
For instance, what do you think would have happend if a victorian school boy had told his Maths teacher to go and himself? Now think what happens now. Did they get away with that unacceptable behavior 100 years ago? No. Do they now? Yes they do
So bring back corpreal punisment? do you think Parents back Then would tell the child "thats right don't take no from them? because they do now.
I doubt it. Do you think that its ok for them to do now? In most cases the teachers arnt giving them '[censored]', but thats the reason they think its ok to take a mans livleyhood away from him. Teachers are here to do a job, to help us, and only us, but children these days are taught to 'not take [censored] from them'. Its not [censored], they are providing you with an education, and as such demand respect. They are (or more the case now) should be seen as authority figures, allthough there arnt anymore. Not door mats to step on, because they are the ones who are giving you the skills to function as an adult.Written by:Written by: Brit_Joe
A!nd to add insult to injury they accuse the teacher of sexual harrasment or assault if they try to lead them out of the classroom, and ruin the life and reputation of that fellow human being, for what? The fun of it?
But were it so widely known then? was there so much money to be made from it?
Thats just another instance of how low we have sunk in society. There wasnt any money to be made from it in the 1900's, if you would have acted like that at school you would first of all gotten punishment from the school masters, then more than likley a clip round the earhole of your parents...or the nannyChief adviser to the Pharaoh, in one very snazzy mutli-coloured coat
'Time goes by so slowly for those who wait...' - Whatever Happend To Baby Madonna?
Written by: mcp
You know jack about prince charles and the pressures of being in the royal family. The queen has been training and groomed from birth to be queen. She's queen for the rest of her life. You got to choose your job and your interests and your clothes and what you do on your days off. She didn't. Not only did she have to grow up like that, but it's continued her ENTIRE adult life. Prince charles has no doubt felt that same enormous pressure. So he made one mistake under it, that he thought was the right one at the time? And you crucify the man for it. I can't and probably don't want to imagine what it's like to be in the royal family.
Chief adviser to the Pharaoh, in one very snazzy mutli-coloured coat
'Time goes by so slowly for those who wait...' - Whatever Happend To Baby Madonna?
Written by: Brit_Joe
But a part of the royal familly or not, if you make vowes to honour, and to respect the woman you enter marrage with, (even if they where false in his circumstance), you keep those vowes. Its an insult to the sanctity of marriage, and the woman you enter it with to do otherwise.
Written by: Upandover
Amen, well at least the entire world hasn't gone to hell in a handbasket
Written by: UmbiliciformCraterOnFaceWritten by: Upandover
Amen, well at least the entire world hasn't gone to hell in a handbasket
You havent read many of Brit_Joes other posts have you?
You do know that he should actually be cast into the seventh circle of hell according to Christianity as he is gay?
Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]
Written by: mcp
is it gross because you mentioned used tampons?
Shouldn't it be: used condoms are bodybags for unconceived children?
Is it wrong that I think none of the above particularly gross?
Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]
Feed me Chocolate!!! Feed me NOW!
"I used to want to change the world, now I just wanna leave the room with a little dignity..." - Lotus Weinstock
Written by: upandover
Jesus gave the greatest example, and that was laying down His life for others.
when you choose to abort a child, your not thinking of the life of the child, your only thinking about yourself.
How this baby will inconvenience YOUR life, YOUR ego, how the pregnancy will Embarrass YOU,
Written by: upandover
I'm not here to condemn, that is not my place, I'm not perfect, but we do have to live with the decisions we make in life, and eventually be held accountable for them. If you've made a mistake in the past, it's OK
Written by: upandover
"Now God says He will accept us and acquit us - declare us not guilty - if we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are of what we have been like." (Romans 3:22)
Written by: upandover
"Why is this little fucker in your belly so much MORE special than you and your life? You're an adult already, you can change the world for the better RIGHT NOW. YOU. Not someone else you happened to give birth to."
"No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one's friends" (John 15:13)
See a little bit of contradiction here?
Jesus gave the greatest example, and that was laying down His life for others.
when you choose to abort a child, your not thinking of the life of the child, your only thinking about yourself.
How this baby will inconvenience YOUR life, YOUR ego, how the pregnancy will Embarrass YOU,
It's hard to make the abortion decision, but it's even harder to face up to the Consequences of your actions, and take responsibility for them.
we live in a society where everyone wants to shift the blame to someone else, why do you think there are so many lawsuit cases, or divorce? It's all too often people try to take the easy way out, regardless of the Consequences to themselves and others.
Life isn't just molecules and cells, life is a precious gift given to us, to snuff one out because it happens to be an "inconvenience" is more disgusting then using tampons as body bags.
I'm not here to condemn, that is not my place, I'm not perfect, but we do have to live with the decisions we make in life, and eventually be held accountable for them. If you've made a mistake in the past, it's OK
"Now God says He will accept us and acquit us - declare us not guilty - if we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are of what we have been like." (Romans 3:22)
I've done my fair share of not so nice things, but in the end I always have someone I can rely on to pick me up when I fall
It's good to be alive
the best smiles are the ones you lead to
Written by: FireTom
Christianity is so much about suffering. You will have to accept, that some ppl do not want to share this philosophy. And therefore: As much as you wish to be tolerated in your faith - practice tolerance on ppl with a different faith and a different outlook on life in general. "Judge not... for ye will be judged." I guess that's also one thing that Jesus said. Whilst so many are daring to quote him on various occasions, they completely disregard that he also said: "The one without sin, may throw the first stone..."
"the now legendary" - Kaskade
"the still legendary" - Kaskade
I spunked in my friend's aquarium and the fish ate it. I love all fish. Especially the pink ones. They are my bitches. - Anon.
Written by: mcp
The easy way out? Which is easier, letting abook dictate your actions, or having to spend the time and energy to consider your decisions in the light of present circumstances everytime you have to make a decision. Never having the same set of circumstances each time, so you have to consider again and again. Cos I think it's fairly obvious that christianity is the easy way out. It's much easier to say that this book is right, than to take into account 1000 years of moral philosophy and human psychology and bring it to bear on your own problems with your own circumstances in mind.
"...We don't stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing......."
Written by: mcp
It's YOU who haven't. You're letting a book make your decisions for you. Everybody else is making their own decisions. Because we're ADULTS, and we let advice advise us, not tell us what to do.
Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]
"the now legendary" - Kaskade
"the still legendary" - Kaskade
I spunked in my friend's aquarium and the fish ate it. I love all fish. Especially the pink ones. They are my bitches. - Anon.
"I used to want to change the world, now I just wanna leave the room with a little dignity..." - Lotus Weinstock
Written by: upandover
When you consider aborting a child, you can't just look at what the fetus is now , this "no heartbeat, no brain, no feeling" thing, your distroying a life that has so much potential,
Written by: moi
Yes. I can actually. Its called science. And thats also why abortion is legal up to 20 weeks gestation. It isn't a life at that point.
Written by: maus
Written by: upandover
you could be aborting the next president, great inventor, musican... and the list goes on. ,
And what if I'm meant to be the next great president, but because I had a child at the age of 16, I've had to alter my life choices?
Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
[They do not move.]
Written by: upandover
if you ever get tired of the same old tabloid crap, give God a chance, I promise you that you won't be dissapointed.
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
Written by: FireTom
In a democracy, everyone has the pristine right to vent their thoughts and philosophies. However we may stand to them, however we may think that they are wrong. IMHO even these right (and left) -wing extremists have the right to articulate what (garbage) is inside their brains.
Whenever we start to censor what is coming - in whatever direction - we form a certain moral and violate it at the same time.
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
Idolized by Aurinoko
Take me disappearing through the smoke rings of my mind....
Bob Dylan
Written by: Doc Lightning
The instant your "self-expression" steps in front of my rights, you've crossed that line. And what I see fundamentalists doing, whether Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu (yes, they exist, and they're just as ugly as the others) or otherwise, crosses that line.
"the now legendary" - Kaskade
"the still legendary" - Kaskade
I spunked in my friend's aquarium and the fish ate it. I love all fish. Especially the pink ones. They are my bitches. - Anon.
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