The man from the southern Dutch town of Giessenburg who wrote ‘Jesus saves’ in large white letters on the roof of his farm has been ordered to remove the text.
The Council of State judged that the well-being of the neighbourhood carried more weight, in this case, than freedom of expression and religion. Above all, said the Council, there are other ways of spreading the message ‘Jesus saves’.
The issued has been under discussion since 2008, when the local council ordered the man to remove the text and imposed a 15,000 euro penalty for non-compliance. The Giessenburger is not, however, planning to remove the text from his roof and intends to take his court to the European Court.
© Radio Netherlands Worldwide
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O Lord, I beg you, show your grace and your mercy to your fearless witness from Giessenburg! Bring down your enemies, o Almighty! Wipe away, o Judge, their names from your lists of those who deserve your gifts, for they demand that the blessed name of Jesus Christ be wiped out! Leave their cursed seed rot amidst barren fields, o Master of heaven and earth! Forgive me, your sinful servant, for my anger and despair, o Love, o Compassion, o Protector of the weak, o Prosecutor of the wicked! For who wants to wipe out Jesus from our sight but those who would gladly crucify Him again? Mete out your holy justice to the godless, o God, whose glory dazzles us, your worthless creatures. Let no-one deter us from expressing our love to You by paying homage to the blessed name of Jesus Christ, the Lamb, the Messiah, the Saviour!