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Police stop cafe displaying bible passages
Jamie Murray, says the officers did not specify which Bible texts had caused the offence.
A CHRISTIAN cafe owner has been left outraged after passages from the Bible sparked a visit from the police.
Jamie Murray has been playing Bible texts on the TV screen in Layton’s Salt and Light Cafe since it opened eight years ago.
But after a customer took offence to one of the passages, the cafe owner was horrified to receive a visit from uniformed officers.
Mr Murray said: “I couldn’t believe the police were saying I can’t display the Bible.
“I said ‘surely it isn’t a crime to show the Bible?’ But they said they had checked with their sergeant and insulting words are a breach of Section 5 of the Public Order Act. I was shocked.
“I’m not here to insult or offend anyone, but the Bible is the Bible. We’re always being told we’re a tolerant and diverse nation. Yet the very thing that gave us those values – Christianity – is being sidelined.”
The woman customer who complained is believed to have contacted police after a passage about the Christian view of homosexuality was displayed on the screen.
Lancashire Police has confirmed officers were to the cafe following a complaint about offensive material, but denied Mr Murray was asked to stop screening the texts.
It is not the first time the force has sparked such controversy. It was forced to pay out £10,000 in 2005 to Joe and Helen Roberts, a couple from Fleetwood who were interrogated about alleged homophobic comments after being stopped from placing Christian literature next to gay rights leaflets in Poulton’s civic centre.
Mr Murray is now considering taking legal action himself and is being backed by religious charity The Christian Institute.
Mike Judge, from the charity, said: “Will Lancashire Police be publishing a police-approved Bible? I’d have thought Lancashire Police would have learned their lesson after paying out £10,000 to a pair of Christian pensioners who they had interrogated over their views on gay rights.
“After that controversy they promised to review their procedures to stop this kind of nonsense. They broke that promise (last) Monday when their officers marched into the Christian cafe in Layton Road. The police may now be facing another costly legal action.”
Lancashire Police said officers were “duty bound” to visit the cafe after the complaint was received but said no action was taken against Mr Murray.
A spokesman for the force added: “The officer discussed the matter with the cafe owner and explained to them the legislation that is in place around materials that are displayed or broadcast in a public environment.
“At no point did the officer ask the cafe owner to remove any materials or arrest the man and we took a common sense and objective approach in dealing with the complaint.
“We believe our response was completely proportionate and our officers are always available should the cafe owner want to discuss the matter or need any advice in the future.
“The constabulary is respectful of all religious views however we do have a responsibility to make sure that material that communities may find deeply offensive or inflammatory is not being displayed in public.”
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Comments
There are 72 comments to this article
Page 1 of 5
Bristol Paddy
Monday, October 3, 2011 at 02:19 PMSadly, we live in a society where freedom of speech and the right to publicly practice our beliefs is now reserved for a favoured few! As usual the jack-booted reaction of the Police remains totally incomprehensible. I was in Blackpool, living on the streets as a Christian two years ago, and I recall that this cafe does tremendous good work in a less favoured area of the town. If people object to my beloved brethren proclaiming their faith in this way the answer is simple - they need not go to the cafe! If they wish to be so narrow minded and bigotted then sadly only they are the losers! I look forward to seeing my fiends there again very shortly and to learning that they continue to proclaim the Gospel of hope and salvation!
Removed by moderator
Sunday, October 2, 2011 at 06:35 PMWhen it comes to religions that persecute gays etc, ISLAM is 2nd to none.It is to gays as nazis to jews.
Ian RANGELEY
Sunday, October 2, 2011 at 05:13 PMChristians are fastly becoming the persecuted nation, now we can not quote the bible, last year a British Heart Charity shop in devon was unable to advertise Christmas as "It may effect our coloured breathren" what a load of codswallop other religions are quoting civil liberties and european writes, its time we stood up for OUR religion!
mjernigan
Sunday, October 2, 2011 at 03:18 AMWhy does one person's complaint overrule thousands of people's approval? I think the cafe owner should be able to display the Bible or whatever else he chooses. If a person is offended they just don't do business with him.
LancashireLass1978
Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 06:00 PMWhy do the Police have time for this, but I kept phoning them about a drug dealer next door to me and they did NOTHING?!? If you don't like passages from the Bible, don't go in a Christian Cafe!
The Martonian
Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 04:13 PMFor Christians it is just the one long Crusade. I say it any religious people, keep it too yourself or when in your religious groups. The rest of us don't care. They would be in uproar if anyone moaned about building a new church, but it seems fine to whinge about a Mosque.
trainspotter
Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 01:26 PMIf this had been connected to another religion they would say what they wanted about gays and the Police would not go near.
dontmess
Thursday, September 29, 2011 at 02:38 PMAll those in favour of complaining, instead of just getting on with their lives,should be told to....... GO FORTH AND MULTIPLY ... but not in as many words ! If the original complainant would like to make themselves known, I would certainly make sure there was no repeat pathetic behaviour in future.
arizonan62
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 07:06 PMI would post a sign beneath the screen, saying that some of the display may be offensive to some......that way, the dummies who take offense at BIBLE verses they don't like are for warned!!!!! and RIGHT ON JAMIE....don't let anyone stop your freedom of speech!!!!
Who Cares
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 06:40 PMThe man has a business plan, and it seems to be working for him, however shallow some people may feel it is. I have a choice, and I won't be going into his business, and I don't expect him to come into mine. Even though I would still make him feel welcome if he did come into my hotel, I don't care what other people do, as long as they do not do anything to harm me or mine.
Removed by moderator
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 06:23 PMNo 57,we are not stuck in the past its 2011, and yes I find homosexual acts revolting, just like smoking which I find revolting but I dont wish any kind harm to those who do such things.
bplbornandbred
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 05:03 PMMy Gazette tonight says he has only owned the cafe for 3 months? he appears not to have breached any Act so he can carry on as he was. good luck.
bplbornandbred
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 05:01 PMMr Murrays not missing a chair is he? a plucky pensioner in Lytham has one , but I thought I was reading the Sunday papers again with that picture and story.
jonbamboro
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 03:27 PM"Mr Murray is considering legal action himself" against who, and for what? The headline is totally wrong, the police did not ask him to stop displaying bible passages, in fact the complaint was about a text relating to the churches view on homosexuality, not a passage from the bible. This is the desperate Gazette trying the fan the flames of hate crimes once again. It is a non story, the guy has been told by the police that by displaying the said texts he may be in breach of a sect 5 offence end of!!! The police have to act if a crime is reported to them, especially a hate crime which because of the over zealous nulabour govt means ots more boxes have to be ticked but at the end of the day the guy is displaying offensive texts in public. Stop it you moron!!!
blackpoolman
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 11:55 AMI am sure this story has changed since this morning, it mentioned something about the officer not understanding the Act correctly and the police had apologised to the cafe owner, now it says something different :-S
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