Farage criticised for backing preacher who says homosexuality is abomination'

"Nigel Farage has been criticised for giving his full support to a Christian church leader who preached that homosexuality was an abomination and would lead to eternity in hell. The Reform UK leader recorded a video with Stephen Clayden after Colchester council applied for a banning order to limit his street preaching. In the clip posted on his YouTube channel, Farage assured Clayden that he was fully on your side in the dispute and offered to enlist the help of contacts at the Free Speech Union campaign group."

"Clayden told Farage the council was objecting to the volume and some of the content of his preaching, including his references to hell and judgment. However, he has since acknowledged that the council raised concerns not just about the volume of his preaching but also his church's warnings against homosexuality. Footage of Clayden preaching last month, available on social media, shows him saying: All adulterers, all fornicators, all sodomites, all drunkards, all thieves, all blasphemers, all liars, all mockers. Their home shall be in the lake of fire we are here telling you what the word of God says."

"In the same session, he told passersby: They hear about words in the Bible like judgment and sin and repentance. They don't like hearing the holy words of God they are offended by what the Bible says when the Bible says homosexuality is an abomination. His Bread of Life church also preached at Pride Week events in Essex last year and Clayden told a meeting the Bible described homosexuality as vile, disgusting and wicked, a sin so wicked and detestable it was worthy of death, and the filthy conduct of the wicked."

"A Labour party spokesperson criticised Farage for promoting Clayden's cause, saying: Time and time again, Nigel Farage finds himself in the company of extreme voices. Farage should have called out these grim homophobic remarks and condemned them. Instead, he is throwing his support behind the individual peddling them, so that he has a bigger platform to"

Nigel Farage recorded a video with Stephen Clayden after Colchester council sought a banning order to limit Clayden’s street preaching. Farage said he was fully on Clayden’s side and offered help through contacts at the Free Speech Union. Clayden said the council objected to volume and content, including references to hell and judgment. Clayden later acknowledged the council’s concerns also included the church’s warnings against homosexuality. Footage showed Clayden preaching that people including “sodomites” would face the “lake of fire,” and telling passersby that the Bible’s statements about homosexuality were offensive. His Bread of Life church also promoted similar views during Pride Week events in Essex, and Labour criticized Farage for supporting extreme homophobic remarks.

Read at www.theguardian.com