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Christians Face 47 Years in Prison Because Philly Judge Calls Bible Verses
Raiders News Update ^ | 12/16/04 | Kathryn Hooks

Posted on 12/16/2004 8:15:22 AM PST by OB1kNOb

Appeal to the Supreme Court last hope for Christians

“First, symbols of Christianity are removed from the public square; now, Christians are facing 47 years in prison because they preached the gospel in the public square. Stalin would be proud,” – Brian Fahling, AFA Center for Law and Policy Senior Trial Attorney.

Tupelo, MS - After a federal appeals court denied an emergency appeal to stop prosecution of 11 Christians on Tuesday, Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge William Austin Meehan ordered four of the Christians to stand trial on three felony (criminal conspiracy, ethnic intimidation, and riot) and five misdemeanor charges. If convicted, they could face up to 47 years in prison.

The Christians were arrested on October 10 for praying, singing, and reading scripture during an annual “gay pride” event known as “Outfest” in Philadelphia.

Since the federal courts did not intervene to halt the state prosecution, the last route for the Christians would be an appeal to the Supreme Court says the Christians’ attorney Brian Fahling, senior trial attorney for the American Family Association Center for Law & Policy.

“First, symbols of Christianity are removed from the public square, now, Christians are facing years in prison because they preached the gospel in the public square. Stalin would be proud,” Fahling said.

The federal appeals court in Philadelphia denied emergency relief despite video footage Fahling calls “undisputed evidence” that shows the Christians cooperating with police and continually being harassed by the Pink Angels, a group of homosexuals organized to impede the gospel message. Philadelphia city prosecutor in the case, Charles Ehrlich, attacked the Christians as “hateful” and referred to preaching the Bible as “fighting words,” the judge agreed.

Charges were dropped against the remaining seven apparently because they were not seen quoting scripture on the videotape.

The Philadelphia case represents another example of discrimination toward Christians,” said Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association national headquarters. “The past month has poured forth cases of Christian persecution seen in the higher education institution, public school systems, and the judicial court system.”

Center for Law and Policy

Contact: Kathryn Hooks 662-844-5036 American Family Association P.O. Drawer 2440 Tupelo, MS 38803 1-662-680-3886


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: afa; bible; christianpersecution; christians; court; donutwatch; hatecrime; homosexualagenda; michaelmarcavage; outfest; persecution; philadelphia; publicsquare; religion; religiousfreedom; repentamerica; wrongforum
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To: JeffAtlanta

I sure didn't take it that way and I'm sure that most reasonable people didn't either. Its never wrong to try to get the full story rather than just going off half cocked.

If a person does something wrong, then accuse them only of those things and don't make things up to make it sound more sensational. Bluegrass asked reasonable questions: there is a big difference between studying an activity and endorsing it. Bluegrass was only trying to figure out if Kinsley actually participated in the acts. By Jeremiah's logic, Christian researchers that study abortion are guilty of endorsing abortion simply because they researched the subject.




Cut and paste where I went off half cocked, made anything up, or accused Bluegrass of anything.


321 posted on 12/17/2004 11:25:21 AM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: Calpernia
Cut and paste where I went off half cocked, made anything up, or accused Bluegrass of anything.

You misread my post. I wasn't referring to you going off half cocked, I was referring to people in general that accept what they're told without verifying it.

322 posted on 12/17/2004 12:27:04 PM PST by JeffAtlanta
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To: JeffAtlanta

I assumed. You posted to me. Thought you were speaking to me.


323 posted on 12/17/2004 12:38:03 PM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: JeffAtlanta

Have you read about Kinsey and how he got his "information"?


324 posted on 12/17/2004 2:28:13 PM PST by little jeremiah (The "Gay Agenda" exists only in the minds of little jeremiah and his cohort. - Modern Man)
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To: biblewonk

If this is a "Godhatesfags" type of group then we may not be
getting the whole story.
=====
No... It's actually "GodhatesIslam and therefor changes Islamic
Paradise reward from 72 firm breaste virgins to 72 pissed
off West Virginia lesbians." !!! ;-))


325 posted on 12/17/2004 5:19:15 PM PST by GeekDejure ( LOL = Liberals Obey Lucifer !!!)
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To: free_life
Read my reply to WallaceT #227.

How about a TRADITIONAL protest with many, many people and protest signs with slogans on them. Or would that be too normal for you?

326 posted on 12/17/2004 5:29:22 PM PST by TAdams8591 (Not to be confused with tdadams!!!!)
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To: Bluegrass Conservative; Calpernia

Why not get back to the thread since you've had plenty of time to read what Dr. Reisman has to say about Kinsey and his methodology? What's your take on Kinsey?

Since you were remaining very neutral (kind of) but now you've had the opportunity to get education, let me and anyone else reading this thread know what your conclusion is. I'd really be interested to see where you stand on Kinsey's pedophile-derived "research".

Maybe Calpernia would like to know too.


327 posted on 12/17/2004 5:58:25 PM PST by little jeremiah (The "Gay Agenda" exists only in the minds of little jeremiah and his cohort. - Modern Man)
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To: little jeremiah
Have you read about Kinsey and how he got his "information"?

No, I haven't had the chance yet. I've really never had an opinion on Kinsey one way or another and I admit that I have not done much research on him or his studies.

I actually don't doubt your assertions about Kinsey - I was just pointing out that it is healthy to ask questions like Bluegrass was doing rather than just accepting what someone says. I've personally witnessed pastors at big and small churches repeat urban myths or false anecdotal stories from the pulpit. They didn't mean anything dishonest by it - they just were repeating things they heard at some conference or from friends. They just never bothered to check out the validity of the claims. Singles' ministers are very bad about doing this exact same thing.

These experiences have taught me that even very honorable men can have their facts wrong so it's always a good idea to verify what they say rather than just blindly accept.

I do appreciate your posting a link to back up your statements. I'll check it out. :-)

328 posted on 12/17/2004 7:07:03 PM PST by JeffAtlanta
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To: little jeremiah; Bluegrass Conservative

Bluegrass hasn't logged into FR since this morning Jeremiah.


329 posted on 12/17/2004 8:01:22 PM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: JeffAtlanta

You're right, what is important is the truth. And in the case of Kinsey, he has developed a repuation as the original expert on sexual behavior. But a close examination does not support this reputation.


330 posted on 12/17/2004 8:08:29 PM PST by little jeremiah (The "Gay Agenda" exists only in the minds of little jeremiah and his cohort. - Modern Man)
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To: TAdams8591
I strongly disagree. Pray-ins are NOT the answer. They will turn people off in droves.

wrong!

The kind of people who would get "turned-off" are the kind of people who got us into this anti-Christian mess in the first place.

Let them go to hell!(as they surely will)

Let us pray, or let us have our children and education money back!

331 posted on 12/17/2004 8:40:31 PM PST by Mark Felton (We are free because we are Christian. There is no other reason.)
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To: free_life
What is there to research? Pedophillia is sick, perverted, and pedophiles will burn. My God, BC you give me a quizzie feeling in my gut. You got a dark secret?

No dark secret whatsoever. But can you honestly say that abnormal sexual behavior should not be studied? Some of these abnormal behaviors really are psychological problems that can be treated. If the person can be brought back to normality through therapy or medication, I am all for that! Just because something is wrong doesn't mean it isn't worth researching, primarily for the goal of righting the wrong.

Under your strategy we would just say, "They have cancer? Well, I guess it's inevitable they're going to die. No sense studying it." Geez!

332 posted on 12/17/2004 9:11:54 PM PST by Bluegrass Conservative
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To: little jeremiah

Actually, I haven't had time. I ended up actually having to do some work yesterday (sigh) and have been gone all day today. I'll try to get back to reading it later this weekend. Off to bed now though! : )


333 posted on 12/17/2004 9:17:08 PM PST by Bluegrass Conservative
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To: Bluegrass Conservative

Studying pedophilia legitimately is not what Kinsey did.

Mengele also did research. Was that legitimate?

If you want to remain either ignorant, or stir up trouble by pretending that you are neutral, that's your business. But you're transparent, you're no more conservative than I am from Kentucky.


334 posted on 12/17/2004 11:36:20 PM PST by little jeremiah (The "Gay Agenda" exists only in the minds of little jeremiah and his cohort. - Modern Man)
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To: OB1kNOb

This is a freedom-of-speech and freedom-of-association issue, pure and simple.


335 posted on 12/19/2004 7:12:32 PM PST by Tax Government (Boycott and defeat the Legacy Media. Become a monthly contributor to FR.)
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To: Tax Government

...and freedom of assembly.


336 posted on 12/19/2004 7:13:00 PM PST by Tax Government (Boycott and defeat the Legacy Media. Become a monthly contributor to FR.)
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To: Bluegrass Conservative

Well, you've had plenty of time to study up on Kinsey, and plenty of time to post comments on FR.

What's your verdict? You tacitly supported him by claiming neutrality, now what do you have to say about him?


337 posted on 12/20/2004 1:57:09 PM PST by little jeremiah (The "Gay Agenda" exists only in the minds of little jeremiah and his cohort. - Modern Man)
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To: Steve_Seattle

Being "gay" is a religion based on peversion and sickness. What did you think it was?


338 posted on 12/21/2004 5:23:57 PM PST by August West (To each according to his ability, from each according to his need...)
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To: mvpel
Matthew also wrote that Jesus told his disciples that he was sending them out like sheep among wolves, and that they should be as shrewd as snakes, and as innocent as doves. They got the "innocent" part right, based on what I saw in the video, and that may save them from conviction on these trumped-up charges, but it doesn't strike me as very shrewd to wade into a known vicously hostile and unreceptive crowd to preach the gospel. Shrewd? Who can tell? They may have gotten through to someone, somehow. Still, the disciples always went to preach in synagogues, or other extremely hostile environments. Heck, most of the known world was a deadly environment, not just hostile. Was that 'smart'? No, not in the sense of preserving your life at all costs, but if to live is Christ and to die is gain, 'smart' takes a different meaning.
339 posted on 01/28/2005 4:55:03 PM PST by Ecthelion
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