A pastor in the United Kingdom, John Sherwood, has been arrested after he stated that marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman.
A member of the public reported the pastor to the police for making homophobic comments.
A video of the 71-year-old Sherwood’s arrest outside Uxbridge Station in west London showed him being rough-handled by the police.
He was arrested under the Public Order Act for using “abusive or insulting words” that cause “harm” to others.
However, Sherwood, who has been a pastor for 35 years, denied making homophobic comments, saying he was only doing his job by teaching from the scriptures.
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“I wasn’t making any homophobic comments, I was just defining marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman. I was only saying what the Bible says – I wasn’t wanting to hurt anyone or cause offence.
“I was doing what my job description says, which is to preach the gospel in open air as well as in a church building,” local media quoted him as saying.
Watch video of the arrest:
Sherwood was released without charge after spending a night in jail but could be arraigned at a later date as the Crown Prosecution Service continues investigation.