Good to see Carmarthenshire man Stephen Green - director of Christian Voice and official spokesman for the world's 2.1 billion Christians - back in the news: he's been too, too quiet. Now he's warning that a ruling by the Law Lords, refusing to hear his lengthy and futile blasphemy case against the producers of Jerry Springer: The Opera, will "bring down the judgement of God on us all".
"I love my neighbour and I do not want that to happen," says Mr Springer. And there's no doubt he's full of love as this column, originally printed in Wales on Sunday in May 2006 shows:
JULY 2003
Ex-builder Mr Green writes to the chief constables of every police force in Wales and England complaining about police officers being allowed to take part in gay pride marches.
Terence Grange from Dyfed-Powys Police writes back: “As a lifelong practising Catholic who has seen service in both the military and police force all my working life, I must advise you that I find your views morally offensive and totally reprehensible and I would be grateful if you would cease any further communication with me.”
JANUARY 2005
The group first gains national notoriety when it circulates the home addresses and telephone numbers of senior BBC figures in protest at the screening of Jerry Springer: The Opera on BBC Two.
Some people on the list receive calls threatening them and their families with death and bloodshed – just, presumably, as Jesus would have wanted.
FEBRUARY 2005
A cash-strapped Scottish cancer charity, Maggie’s Centres, is forced to turn down a substantial donation that came from the proceeds of a special performance of Jerry Springer – The Opera. The charity had been due to receive £10 per ticket for an afternoon gala, the total amount being around £10,000.
Big-hearted Mr Green writes to the charity threatening to “picket” its branches and “block its work” unless it refuses the “sinful” money. Oddly, it does not offer to make up the shortfall itself.
Fresh from his cancer triumph, Mr Green turns his attention to targeting abortion clinics and the often desperate women forced by circumstances to use them.
“The taking of innocent blood brings judgement on our land and cries to Heaven for vengeance,” he says. “The presence of abortion centres in our towns is iniquitous. They should be shut down. It would not take much: just a few prayer vigils outside clinics.”
Strangely, no clinics have yet shut as a result of these vigils.
AUGUST 2005
Shortly after Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans, the ever-sensitive Mr Green issues a statement claiming it was the deserved result of God’s wrath at the city for staging an annual gay Mardi Gras.
“By one of those co-incidences which only Almighty God can manufacture, the name ‘Katrina’ means ‘purity’,” notes Mr Green, while the bodies of 1,604 innocent people still lie buried in rubble.
DECEMBER 2005
As Labour’s Civil Partnership Bill is introduced, allowing gay people to enjoy the same legal benefits of married people, Mr Green – who, you may have gathered by now, devotes much of his time to thinking about homosexuality – steps in to offer his opinion.
“They will cement sad, deluded people into a lifestyle characterised by deceit, disease, degradation and death,” fumes Mr Green.
Warming to his theme, he adds: “Ordinary people will be revolted by the sight of these couples embracing,” while most ‘ordinary’ people shrug and get on with their own lives.
Noting the amount of coverage his views have now gained in the media in the media, Mr Green told The Times last year: “Perhaps the Lord thinks I have got a certain gift. With all the hate mail I have been getting, I am obviously rattling Satan’s cage.”
Perhaps the Lord does think he’s got a certain gift. Or perhaps journalists have his mobile number and know he’s always good for an easy quote. Who knows?