A Small Blow Against Hate Speech Laws
Court turns back threat to church bulletins
Case alleging ‘false light’ could have exposed even prayer requests to litigationThe Supreme Court of Florida has turned back a case that could have threatened churches with liability over the content of their Sunday bulletins and left prayer requests subject to litigation by anyone “offended” by virtually anything, according to the law firm handling the case.
“Under a ‘false light ’ case, the truth may not be a defense. Someone can bring a lawsuit against you even when you state a truthful statement, with no damage,” Mathew Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel, told WND.
The restrictions would have left church newsletters, websites, e-mails, “even a prayer request,” subject to litigation should someone decide to take offense, he said.
However, the state Supreme Court, in a 5-0 ruling, concluded that Florida law does not recognize claims for “false light invasion of privacy,” releasing the media, churches, nonprofits and individuals to publish truthful information about a person without fear of a lawsuit for damages on allegations the person was placed in a “false light.”
The decision came in the dispute between Jews For Jesus, Inc., and a woman named Edith Rapp.
The case developed when Jews for Jesus sent a newsletter in July 2002 to its supporters and friends in which Jews for Jesus missionary Bruce Rapp wrote in a “Praise Report” that his Jewish stepmother had “repeated the sinner’s prayer with me – praise God!” according to Liberty Counsel.
“The newsletter also contained a prayer request for ‘grace and strength for new Jewish believer Edie and salvation for her husband, Marty,’” Liberty Counsel said.
Edith Rapp, following her husband’s death, sued Jews for Jesus for publishing information about her.
“Prior to Marty’s death, Bruce reported the following account in the Jews for Jesus newsletter:” the court said.
I had a chance to visit with my father in Southern Florida before my Passover tour. He has been ill for sometime and I was afraid that I may not have another chance to be with him. I had been witnessing to him on the telephone for the past few months. He would listen and allow me to pray for him, but that was about all. On this visit, whenever I talked to my father, my stepmother, Edie (also Jewish), was always close by, listening quietly. Finally, one morning Edie began to ask me questions about Jesus. I explained how G-d [sic] gave us Y’Shua (Jesus) as the final sacrifice for our atonement, and showed her the parallels with the Passover Lamb. She began to cry, and when I asked her if she would like to ask G-d for forgiveness for her sins and receive Y’Shua she said yes! My stepmother repeated the sinner’s prayer with me-praise G-D! Pray for Edie’s faith to grow and be strengthened. And please pray for my father Marty’s salvation.
It is a core issue for the Democrat Party to criminalize our thoughts, to use external factors as a means of mind reading. Thus, at some near future point any Christian thoughts against abortion, homosexual marriage or other sins can result in fines and prison to force everyone to submit to liberal orthodoxy.
To be honest I have never heard of “false light” as a legal doctrine.
“False light cases, if allowed to proceed, would have penalized “even true statements that do not cause damage to a person’s reputation or character,” the court said.
Like many “hate crimes” laws implemented across the nation, the false light claims would be based on a person’s perception, since there would be no need to prove any injury. The statements cited, in fact, could be true.
“False light invasion of privacy claims hang over the neck of publishers like Damocles’ sword,” Staver said. “Rejecting false light invasion of privacy is a landmark decision for free speech. The First Amendment needs breathing room. False light invasion of privacy claims choke the First Amendment. To remain alive and well, speech needs to be free and robust. To allow one person to silence another, merely because truthful words offend, would result in no freedom at all.”
For now such thought crimes cannot be used to silence churches from isssuing prayer requests or making truthful statements in their church bulletins. But, I have faith in liberalism, they will find a way to silence Christian churches in America and make Christian thoughts a crime.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=78920
