Hate speech Archives

Scottish Christian leaders say hate crime bill limits freedom to disagree

Feb 19, 2021

The Scottish government should withdraw parts of a hate crime bill because of the risk it will lead to the prosecution of people solely for disagreeing with gender ideology and same-sex marriage, said Catholic and Protestant leaders.

By Catholic News Service

UN approves global conference on protecting religious sites

Jan 22, 2021

The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution Thursday condemning damage and destruction of religious sites and asking the secretary-general to convene a global conference to spearhead public support for safeguarding places of religious heritage.

By Edith Lederer

Scottish bishop urges change to hate crime law to protect religious believers

Oct 14, 2020

Scotland’s government should heed Pope Francis’s call to “foster encounter and to seek convergence on at least some issues” as it debates hate crime legislation, according to Bishop Jopseph Toal of Motherwell.

By Charles Collins

Scottish bishops warn against ‘cancel culture’ and affirm ‘freedom to disagree’

Jul 29, 2020

Scotland’s bishops have decried ‘cancel culture’ and warned that freedom of expression and belief could be at risk under proposed hate crime legislation.

By Charles Collins

Detroit archdiocese responds to derogatory attacks on Washington archbishop

Jun 16, 2020

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron and the Archdiocese of Detroit in a June 11 statement condemned “racist and derogatory” language used by a fringe organization located in the archdiocese that bills itself as Catholic and posted a video calling the archbishop of Washington an “African Queen,” saying he is an “accused homosexual.”

By Rhina Guidos

German law takes initiative in countering hate speech on social media

Dec 9, 2017

A group looking at hate speech, listed religion as the fourth most-frequent offending category after ethnicity, nationality and class, and ahead of sexual orientation, gender and disability. This is leading to new laws in the EU dealing with the internet.

By Tom Heneghan

Pope’s critique of ‘gender theory’ emboldens bishops to speak out

Aug 22, 2016

Recent developments in Colombia, Mexico and Spain suggest that Pope Francis’ blistering attacks on “gender theory,” the idea that people ought to be free to choose their own gender, is emboldening Catholic bishops around the world to speak out themselves.

By Inés San Martín

Spanish cardinal who denounced ‘gay empire’ cleared of hate speech

Jun 23, 2016

Criminal proceedings against Cardinal Antonio Cañizares of Valencia were dismissed without further investigation because a magistrate saw no “criminal intent” nor an appeal to “hatred and violence” in the homily delivered by the prelate on May 13.

By Inés San Martín