Soccer Dad

Trying intimidation on for sizer

Instapundit thinks that it's usually a mistake to threaten bloggers. Apparently Rev. Stephen Sizer didn't get the message.

Rev. Sizer is the vicar, or senior pastor, of Christ Church, Virginia Water. If you check out his websites, it is clear that he is rabidly anti-Israel. What you wouldn't know is that he has other associations that are worthy of attention, that blogger, Seismic Shock publicized.

Yet there's another reason why I've been quiet, and whilst I've held my tongue and my pen for a while, now is time to speak.

At 10am on Sunday 29th November 2009, I received a visit from two policemen regarding my activities in running the Seismic Shock blog. (Does exposing a vicar's associations with extremists make me a criminal?, I wondered initially). A sergeant from the Horsforth Police related to me that he had received complaints via Surrey Police from Rev Sizer and from Dr Anthony McRoy - a lecturer at the Wales Evangelical School of Theology - who both objected to being associated with terrorists and Holocaust deniers.

(Context: Sizer has associated with some very nasty terrorists and Holocaust deniers; McRoy has delivered a paper at a Khomeinist theological conference in Iran comparing Hezbollah's struggle against Israel via suicide bombing with the Christian's struggle against sin via the atoning death of Jesus, and describes the world's most prominent Holocaust denier as an "intelligent, humble, charismatic, and charming" man who "gives quick, extensive and intelligent answers to any question, mixed with genial humour").

Modernity Blog adds:

I suspect that Reverend Sizer, much like the dictators in Tehran or Beijing, can't take criticism because it exposes the darker side of his soul. It exposes his contempt for Israelis and Jews, it shows his ignorance and lack of sensitivity on the Middle East.

Whatever you think of the arguments put by Seismic Shock (and I find them convincing), whatever you think it is extraordinary that Reverend Sizer should actually use the police to intimidate someone, a blogger, that's unheard of.

We all know of situations where major corporations have sought protection in the Courts against bloggers, but to send the police around to coerce a blogger, physically, is extraordinary.

To me it shows that Reverend Sizer is small minded, insecure and petty. He can't deal with the arguments. Reverend Sizer can't handle the criticism and so he tries to intimidate people, with the police.

Above all, it shows that Reverend Sizer has contempt for the notions of freedom of speech and debate.

(h/t Simply Jews)