For Immediate Release: 12/16/2004
. - “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.”
So much for the First Amendment in the City of Brotherly Love... or have I missed something?
Ping
I live in PA. I think when this hits the PA Supreme Court it will end up being a high profile win for us and the constitution. If not, then we can count of God for an even bigger victory down the road. (he tends to work that way.) Historically, the more a society rebelled against God, the more he made his presence known.
Who was on the federal appeals court that made this decision?
This looks to me like a good case for a Presidential Pardon, if nothing happens to derail the process before they go to jail.
This story needs to get to Hannity and Hewitt ASAP.
There are some cities in this country that I will no longer travel to. In the case of Massachusetts and Vermont, that goes for the entire state.
I suspect that if, say, 100,000 Christians were to show up in Philadephia, Miss. to protest, the city fathers would get the message real fast.
Well, if its a fight they want . . .