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Pastor to sue dating site over release of rude comments

Published: 22 Apr 09 15:09 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/19018/20090422/

A Christian dating website which released details about a Swedish pastor’s offensive comments has been accused of violated the country’s data privacy laws.

The pastor, who is retired, claimed he was drunk when he posted the lewd comments on the 7EHimlen ('Seventh Heaven') website, and has since apologized.

Nevertheless, he is still in danger of losing his position within the church, pending a ruling due to come later in the week.

"You look like a bearded lady," the pastor about one woman with whom he was chatting on the site, according to the Smålandsposten newspaper.

"You look really drab and dreary. You probably have to pay for sex," the elderly pastor reportedly wrote to another woman.

But in passing along the information to the pastor’s superiors, the operators of 7EHimlen broke Sweden’s data privacy laws, according to the Swedish Data Inspection Board (Datainspektionen).

In a response to an inquiry from the pastor, the agency said he would be justified in seeking damages from the site’s operators.

The pastor confirmed for Smålandsposten that he plans to proceed with a damages claim against 7EHimlen.

Simon Widén, a part owner of the site, explained that he chose to report the matter because he was so upset by the pastor’s comments.

“Maybe I’ve broken the law, but from a moral standpoint, it feels justified,” he told the newspaper.

TT/David Landes (news@thelocal.se)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

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The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

16:14 April 22, 2009 by peropaco
I don't think anyone should trust that 7EHimlen site and that Simon Widen creep. In other words he is suggesting is it is OK to break the law as long if you have a moral reasoning to do so. He is a very dangerous person and his site should be shutdown.
20:30 April 22, 2009 by RoyceD
If that Pastor can sue someone for pointing out something that he, the Pastor, wrote in a public forum was morally objectionable then the system is truly screwed. Sure, its not a good idea for people to make public things which shouldn't be public... but surely there is no point in seeking monetary damages. I think the Pastor should loose his position, and that has nothing to do with what he said, but how he reacted to it. I doubt suing for defamation is what his "Jesus" would have done.
21:05 April 22, 2009 by Kind Man
How do we that Pastor was drunk?

And where in the Bible says to drink alcohol?

Prohibition of alcohol in the Bible

The Bible prohibits the consumption of alcohol in the following verses:

"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."

[Proverbs 20:1]

"And be not drunk with wine."

[Ephesians 5:18]
22:07 April 22, 2009 by Ian Sealy
"drink your wine with a joyful heart"

[Ecclesiastes 9:7]

Bible in contradicting itself shocker.
06:14 April 23, 2009 by wolfen
can I get payed for getting drunk and insulting people?God gave us this life to live and to be happy and to experience.He said it,he apolagize,and now he can collect his money.sounds like a preacher.I would'nt give him the time of day...to put it mildly.
08:00 April 23, 2009 by Nemesis
Lets you know what religeous people running organisations think of provacy.

He is also an idiot.
12:55 April 23, 2009 by Britswedeguy
The Bible also says that gay men are an abomination, menstruating women must wash in urine, women were made from a man's rib on the instructions of a talking snake and that the Earth was made a few thousand years ago by a magic man that lives in the sky.

Don't believe anything written by Arab goat-herders out of their minds on mushrooms.
21:52 April 23, 2009 by Muttlestar Galactica
Jesus Turns Water Into Wine (John 2:1-11).

So 'kind'man? Was this person to be stoned?
00:43 April 24, 2009 by Kind Man
First of All Bible has more than 40 writers. second Bible was not writen during the Prophit Jesus time. It has more 40 writers with more than 50 version. one version conterdicts another.

for sure it is not word of God.and Jesus wouldnt tell you guys to drink wine. and If you guys say that Jesus drunk wine. the question would came into mind does God needs to be drunk? or to enjoy lol

"Bible has more conterdictions than its words on it" According to Bible PHd and Professor Bart Ehrman's an EX christian.

so for sure the Bible is writen by men by ex killer of Christian Paul and translated by King James according to historian he was gay. a book writen by these sort of people would be confusing and wouldnt answer your questions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVpmwodF2n8...re=channel_page this would help you.
01:26 April 24, 2009 by Muttlestar Galactica
So let me get this right...

You are a religious person who for whatever reason has no respect for one of the many other religion's source materials?

Whatever next? Star Trek fans hating on Star Wars fans?
11:04 April 24, 2009 by Kind Man
I am not religious seriously. And I am sorry if my words are hurting you my intension is not to hurt anybody but I am quoting from the verses or if I m saying wrong then please correct me I would edit that part in my post.

And I understand how you feel if you are a Christian and look at these verse which we are quoting from Bible it clearly shows every writer wrote his own issue one say drink another say dont drink. If this is indeed word of God then it should say "Drink or Dont." but not to conterdict itself! I wonder if one of these writer had a Wine company.

Doctor refuses alcohol, your wife doesnt like if you are into drinks. you would be fired if they find you drunk man. 1000 issues only about drunk.

and the worst thing about drinking is that you are normal person and once you get drunk. then you do many stupid things which even ur kids would say my dad is so stupid and it makes you look like jokers to your family and friends.

The Clear example is this Pastor who had this Job in the church and now become subject to media because of what "Alcohol"

But dont think I am religious or I insult anybody . I do love Christians they are my brother and sisters
13:44 April 24, 2009 by Paulo +fab muscular than Jonnhy
Oh my, oh my Lord! I'm in such a huge dilemma, please guide me, please I need you!

Can wine, beer or cointreau(yes, I do love French boneless skin-on duck breast a L'Orange ma chérie) be used to cook?

God save my fjucked-up-butt-buddies soul!
17:36 April 24, 2009 by Muttlestar Galactica
Well, if you say so, then I guess it really must be true.

However...

Oh dear, contrary to your response It would indeed appear as though your are in fact 'religious', Islamic, specifically.

Now this gets me to thinking that if you are willing to omit certain truths in relation to your personal belief system, your motive have been that might be that you wanted to use finesse in your prejudice against another religion's source material.

Well that's cleared that up then.

You're just another egocentric liar.

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