Trial Starts for Preachers Arrested Outside Pro-Homosexual Celebration

Agape Press ^ | 1/8/04 | Allie Martin

[truthandlife]

A trial begins today for four ministers arrested in Philadelphia while preaching outside of a "gay pride" celebration event.

Jim Lymon, a New York evangelist, and Pennsylvania pastors Jim Grove, Stephen Garisto, and Michael Marcavage were arrested last July and charged with disorderly conduct and defiant trespass while evangelizing on a public street outside of "PrideFest" -- an annual homosexual, bisexual, and transgendered event. The day-long event featured various activities, including the sale of pornographic materials, public nudity, and open lewdness.

Marcavage says all four ministers cooperated with police but were arrested simply for preaching the gospel.

"There was no unlawful thing that we were doing. We were just out there talking to people," Marcavage explains. "We had a lot of good discussions going, and it was very unfortunate that this would come about -- but you come to expect that when you're on the front lines. When you're dealing with people in a public forum, the police become more aggressive."

In Marcavage's opinion, the arrests underscore the need for spiritual awakening in America. He says what he and the others are involved in "is a spiritual battle" -- and that without the prayers of fellow believers, it is difficult to continue to stand against the opposition.

"In this battle, more and more opposition [emerges] when we're out there and we're trying to witness for Christ," he explains. "We're trying come against evil in our communities, to say 'No, Satan, we're not going to allow you to invade our communities anymore.'"

Despite that opposition, Marcavage promises to continue preaching the gospel and to do what is right -- "to stand on God's truth." Grove, Garisto, and Marcavage were jailed until the event was over. Lymon, the first to be arrested, was cited and released.

[joesnuffy]

Out of the mouths of three or more witnesses is a thing confirmed...
The spirit of anti-Christ is stirring...against those of the King

[observer5]

Sounds like F**kin POLICE STATE to me!

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[Bean Counter]

This is really hard for me to believe. Have things really sunk this low?

God help us!

[Viking2002]

Ah, but the tailgunner contingent thinks that any form of protest - peaceful or not - should be given a free pass, as long as they're the ones doing it. Any legal ramifications are nothing more than 'Nazi oppression' by bigots and Christian extremists.

[OpusatFR]

"...evangelizing on a public street outside of "PrideFest" -- an annual homosexual, bisexual, and transgendered event."

Public street? What am I missing here? It's ok to throw condoms on an altar but a public street is verboten?

It isn't the conservatives who are fascists.

[truthandlife]

Matthew 5:10-12

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven...."



John 15:18-21

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you... If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you... because they do not know Him who sent Me."



John 16:1-4

“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues [today it might be from churches]; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them."



John 17:14-18

"I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one."

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP - FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND RELIGION ALERT

[BenLurkin]

^

[george wythe]

Marcavage says all four ministers cooperated with police but were arrested simply for preaching the gospel.

I heard the same spiel from the FTAA protestors in Miami.

Color me skeptical

[Argus]

The day-long event featured various activities, including the sale of pornographic materials, public nudity, and open lewdness

You used to get arrested for this stuff, and urged to read the Bible instead. Now, it's the other way around.

As the saying goes, if God doesn't level Philadelphia, he owes Sodom and Gomorrah an apology.

[RightOnline]

If this is true.......and this story accurate.........then the city of Philadelphia should be facing an unbelievable lawsuit.

[Saundra Duffy]

I'm proud of these preachers.

[don-o]

Help me out here. What is the tailgunner contingent?

From the post, sounds like the preachers were exercising their good 'ol first amendment rights. I can imagine that the q's got their panties in a twist, pitched a hissy fit and the cops took the quick fix.

____________________

Now, all enlightened ones know that we can't be squelching nudity and lewd and lascivious behavior in public. That would be a violation of......., uh not their right to privacy.

It would be violating....uh, their dignity. Their right to dignity and freedom from criticism of a peverse and unhealthy lifestyle. Is that it?

[cookcounty]

next time, they should put a couple people with videocams on the roof.

[Clintonfatigued]

Not everybody in Philadelphia behaves that way. In fact, a I'd bet that most of the Pride-Fest revelers were from elsewhere.

[Central_Floridian]

If this is true, Jesus has promised these men rewards in heaven.

[Argus]

I was just kidding. The saying usually goes "If God doesn't destroy LA...etc." And I live in LA.

[Clintonfatigued]

Oh, whoops! Guess I missed the joke. : )