PERTH, Scotland — A street preacher and U.S. native, Tony Miano, was effectively arrested last week in Scotland after a confrontation ensued over what was deemed ‘homophobic’ aggravation by Scottish officials. According to a report in CharismaNews.com, Miano, a former Los Angeles deputy sheriff, was part of a street preaching team holding a week-long mission. While talking about the nature of sin, and, more specifically, the specific types of sin Jesus was put on earth to save people from, a woman began to shout at him. According to the report, “[Miano] was preaching about the nature of sin in general and when mentioned sexual sin including adultery, promiscuity and homosexual practice, the woman shouted her son was gay.”
“Tony wasn’t focusing just on homosexual practice,” says fellow pastor Josh Williamson of the Craigie Reformed Baptist Church in Perth. “It was all about sin. A woman was yelling at him and her friend noticed we were filming the preaching, so she ran up to me and tried to smash my camera.”
What happened next is still not settled. According to the preachers, two police officers then approached them and threw them in a police van after the unidentified woman threatened to have them arrested. Miano, for his part, says it was never explained to him why he was arrested.
Miano appeared before the Sheriffs court on Wednesday, where he pleaded “not guilty.” He has been bailed to appear for trial at Dundee Sheriff’s Court April 22 but is free to return to his home in the United States.
Criticism was fast and furious. Andrea Minichiello Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Center was quoted as saying, “The issue raises serious questions about police procedure and understanding of the law in dealing with such incidents. It is indicative of the suppression of the freedom to speak and live out the words of Jesus Christ in public.”
Miano was arrested last July, in London, for alleged ‘homophobic’ comments. The case was subsequently dropped.
