Vogelenzangs Not Bitter Towards Muslim Accuser

ICC Note

“How on earth did a breakfast discussion about religion end up with two Christians sitting in the dock at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court?”

06/16/2010 UK (The Christian Institute)-Speaking in a BBC radio interview the couple said their hotel is in dire financial straights but heartily thanked the Christians from around the world who had supported them through their ordeal.

In December the couple faced a criminal trial in Liverpool Magistrates’ Court following a complaint over a conversation about Christianity and Islam.

The judge dismissed the case against the Vogelenzangs and declared them innocent.

Gentle

In a BBC Radio Merseyside interview broadcast on Sunday, the couple said they pray for Ericka Tazi, the Muslim who made a complaint against them, and hold no bitterness towards her.

Yet Sharon Vogelenzang expressed sadness at Mrs Tazi’s decision to take the matter to court, saying it was only a “gentle”, grown up conversation.

She said their accusers “can get on with their lives and our life’s been completely destroyed financially”.

Freedom

Despite the trial and the loss of business resulting from it, Mrs Vogelenzang said she didn’t regret the original conversation: “I can’t regret the fact that I disagreed with what somebody was saying about my faith.

“I thought in this country we had freedom of speech and I had the right to turn round and say ‘no I’m sorry but we disagree with you there because we’re Christians’ and that was the sum total of my conversation with her.”

Latitude

“How on earth did a breakfast discussion about religion end up with two Christians sitting in the dock at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court?”