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It’s one thing to vigorously vocalize one’s religious beliefs – to aggressively and passionately proselytize for another’s soul.
Standing on street corners, though, under the guise of preaching, but with the express purpose of denigrating the sacred beliefs of others, makes an absolute mockery of the time-honored First Amendment principles of both religion and free speech.
We feel for Jose Basilio, the Provo man who now faces charges of battery and attempted theft for allegedly assaulting a so-called “street preacher” near the LDS Church’s Conference Center during the church’s recent General Conference.
Basilio denies touching the man or taking anything from him, but says he lost his temper when the preacher spit and stepped on a sacred piece of Latter-day Saint clothing.
Of course, it’s for the legal system to determine Basilio’s fate.
Meantime, we would hope those who feel the need to publicly belittle what others hold sacred would consider the most basic tenets of the Man who’s very name they invoke, yet blatantly profane by their repugnant actions.
Said Jesus, “ . . . love one another as I have loved you.”
In KSL’s view, it is difficult to see any form of Christian love emanating from certain street preachers who’ve taken upon themselves the sacrilegious mission of provoking Latter-day Saint conference goers every six months.
