The impact of Tony Miano's case on free speech
Telegraph journalist, Cristina Odone, has offered a helpful analysis of the case of Tony Miano, who was arrested for using “homophobic” language whilst preaching on a London street.
Mr Miano, who is a former Los Angeles deputy sheriff, was speaking about the need to abstain from sexual immorality based on 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12.
Following a complaint by a passer-by, he was arrested and taken to a local police station where he was photographed, fingerprinted and had a DNA sample taken. He was also asked a series of questions, including whether he would do a homosexual person a “favour.”
Mr Miano said: “I did not speak solely about homosexuality as a form of sexual immorality but also about any kind of sex outside of marriage between one man and one woman, as well as lustful thoughts.
“I was being interrogated about my thoughts … that is the basic definition of thought police."
Implications
Writing about the case and its implications for freedom of speech, Cristina Odone said:
“The irony of being marched to the Wimbledon nick after having spent 20 years as a law enforcer was not lost on Mr Miano. He told me over the phone: 'The booking process held no surprises.' He had his DNA and fingerprints taken (and was relieved of his wedding ring) and was then locked up in a small cell for seven hours."
“Mr Miano could have pointed out that, while preaching at the shopping centre, he had condemned pornography and slushy novels, too; but it was clear to him that the police were only interested in one [thing] “thought crime”…..You can believe that homeopathy cures ailments but not that homosexuality is a sin.”
“In the end, Mr Miano was released without charge. He asked if he could keep the Gideon Bible that he’d received in prison. When it turned out to be the only copy, he asked if he could provide a few more. The following day, he dropped off 10 copies of the Good Book at Wimbledon police station.
"That’s tolerance for you."
