THE leader of Adelaide's controversial street preachers is suing Adelaide City councillor Anne Moran for defamation.

Court documents obtained by The Advertiser show Street Church spokesman Caleb Corneloup is demanding Ms Moran pay $40,000 in damages because she accused the group of peddling a "vicious hate-filled message".

He is also suing ABC TV, which telecast the comments. In August, the Supreme Court ruled that the group - which has brandished placards in Rundle Mall warning "sins" like homosexuality, adultery and fornication will lead to damnation - were allowed to continue their activities.

The group argued they had a right to freedom of political speech and have since taken their message to a tattoo parlour, a Victor Harbor pub and public transport.

In the court documents, Mr Corneloup alleges that during a TV debate with Mr Corneloup on November 10, Ms Moran said the group was "anti-women, anti pretty much anything" and spread an "abhorrent" message.

The documents, lodged on January 16, claim Ms Moran damaged Mr Corneloup by stating "it is not the message of Jesus Christ, it's a vicious and hate-filled message".

Ms Moran, who is an Anglican, yesterday said the group had adopted an "Old Testament" view of religion and were hypocritical in their application of freedom of speech.

"We should be afforded the same type of freedom of speech which they have been afforded, and they really have been afforded a very broad interpretation," she said. "I and many others think they are over-the-top but apparently (we are) not allowed to say that."

The preachers have also lodged another defamation suit against the Sunday Mail and Mr Corneloup yesterday said there "will be a lot more (defamation suits) to come".

"Freedom of speech can be curtailed within reasonable regulation," he said. "Defamation of character is something that freedom of speech should not be allowed to do."

Mr Corneloup said his group won the right to preach under laws protecting political comment while Ms Moran had made statements reflecting on alleged poor personal character. Ms Moran said the council was assessing whether to grant her a ratepayer-funded defence.