Liberals used to support the right of people to say that which is unpopular. Now they try to shut down speech with which they disagree. So it comes as a real surprise that Ake Green was found not guilty of violating hate speech laws in Sweden for preaching a very traditional sermon about homosexuality.

Sweden's highest court on Tuesday acquitted a Pentecostal pastor accused of hate speech for having denounced homosexuality as a "cancerous tumor" in a sermon.

Ake Green's contentious sermon in 2003 was protected by freedom of speech and religion under the European Convention on Human Rights, the Supreme Court said in a 16-page ruling.

Green, 64, became the first clergyman convicted under Sweden's hate crimes legislation, when a lower court found him guilty of inciting hatred against homosexuals. An appeals court overturned the ruling earlier this year, but Sweden's chief prosecutor appealed the acquittal to the Supreme Court.

Green said the Supreme Court ruling was a relief both for him other preachers.
Sweden's highest court on Tuesday acquitted a Pentecostal pastor accused of hate speech for having denounced homosexuality as a "cancerous tumor" in a sermon.

Ake Green's contentious sermon in 2003 was protected by freedom of speech and religion under the European Convention on Human Rights, the Supreme Court said in a 16-page ruling.

Green, 64, became the first clergyman convicted under Sweden's hate crimes legislation, when a lower court found him guilty of inciting hatred against homosexuals. An appeals court overturned the ruling earlier this year, but Sweden's chief prosecutor appealed the acquittal to the Supreme Court.

Green said the Supreme Court ruling was a relief both for him other preachers.
The trial ended earlier this month, but the verdict was not issued until Tuesday.

The decision cited European human rights laws to uphold the right to preach the Gospel unmolested by government interference.

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