Pennsylvania Goes After Thought Crimes

CNSNews ^ | Thursday, Nov. 28, 2002 | Susan Jones

[tomball]

A bill passed by the Pennsylvania legislature may make it illegal for preachers to quote Bible passages condemning homosexuality, according to a group that opposes the measure. The bill, passed by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Tuesday night, is now on its way to Gov. Mark Schweiker, who says he will sign it.

The measure amends the state's Ethnic Intimidation Act to include "sexual orientation, gender or gender identity." The pro-family Urban Family Council worries that the bill will be enforced too liberally.

William Devlin, the group's president, is advising pastors and churches across Pennsylvania to "obtain some very good liability insurance and contact an attorney if the pastor intends to continue faithfully preaching the Word."

According to Devlin, "This bill is so broad that if you have an attender at your church who feels offended or intimidated by what is said from the pulpit, you and your church leadership will be receiving certified letters inviting you to either a deposition or a court appearance."

[Husker24]

Bologny..........this bill cant be this broad.

[Sparta]

Three cheers for the police state.

[Paul Atreides]

You were only eighteen years off, Mr. Orwell.

[DWSUWF]

Damn homos.

If they keep this up there may need to be some 'unpleasantness'.

[evolved_rage]

I wonder if they'll apply it to that highly tolerant POS, the Koran.

[Slyfox]

Hey, what about separation of Church and State???

[Tribune7]

It's a stupid law but Mr. Devlin appears to be stretching things. As I understand it, the new law only expands the definitions of the existing Ethnic Intimidation Act and only comes into play when another crime is involved.

Unless a pastor decides to smack someone around while he's preaching the Gospel, he's safe.

[Commander8]

Well, this is a case where civil disobedience is definately justified. I'm only surpised it didn't happen in California first.

[Arthur McGowan]

If a person attends a church, and the preacher preaches what that church believes, then by definition the person in the pew cannot claim to be either surprised or offended by what is preached. Such a lawsuit will be laughed out of court, provided the judges are not wicked and juries are not morons.

Oh.

Never mind.

[Michael Barnes]

Thanks for the #8 post..my thoughts exactly..

[DWSUWF]

"...Im offended by rap and hip hop,can we ban it..."

Give the ones who sing it a little more time and they'll kill each other off.

[Lancey Howard]

Gov. Mark Schweiker, who says he will sign it.

Wow.
I was wondering if this guy was going to try to make a political comeback someday.
Obviously, he is not. Shame. What a way to go out. What a weasel.

[Grut]

Bologny..........this bill cant be this broad.

It could be, but if it is then it's unconstitutional. I suspect its opponents are just applying a little tactical hysteria.

[BenLurkin]

It brings to mind "The Stockpile Song" http://disc.server.com/discussion.cgi?id=166267;article=36;date_query1018049214.html

[apackof2]

ALREADY POSTED HERE,

[Verginius Rufus]

The First Amendment forbids Congress to prohibit the free exercise of religion, but doesn't say anything about a state government doing so. Perhaps there are guarantees of freedom of religion in the Pennsylvania constitution which could be invoked. Pennsylvania might as well become part of Canada.

[joesnuffy]

Regardless of what laws are passed it still boils down to how they will be applied
The RICO statutes when applied by the Clinton/Reno DOJ used them to harrass abortion
protestors..rather than dangerous organized crime..like the drug cartels or domestic gangs.