Pastor arrested at gay pride festival (Handed out flyer: Homosexuality is a sin)

kansas.com ^ | 06.30.08 | DANIEL MCCOY

[Coleus]

For the second consecutive year, a gay pride parade and festival was marked by the arrest of a Wichita pastor.
But for the vast majority of those who gathered Sunday afternoon at Naftzger Park for the event, the day was one of celebration. "It means a lot to me," said Ken Gehmlich, president of Wichita Pride, which sponsors the annual event. "I think it's great that we can come together as family." Organizers estimated that about 100 people walked in the parade and that more than 1,000 attended the festival, which featured live music and vendors. After the parade traversed a parking lot near the intersection of Main and English to the festival grounds, the group encountered a familiar face.

 

Pastor Mark Holick of Spirit One Christian Center and around 20 of his church's members had gathered near the park to distribute religious literature and express their belief that homosexuality is a sin.

 

"We expected him to be here," said Thomas Witt, vice president of Wichita Pride. Holick was arrested at last year's event on a charge of criminal trespassing, which was later dropped. In January, Holick filed a federal lawsuit against the city, claiming his free speech rights had been violated.  On Sunday, according to witnesses, Holick and other Spirit One members had entered the park and were attempting to hand out their literature.

 

Because the Pride organization had rented the park, it had the right to refuse entrance to anyone, Witt and police said. Holick and the others were asked to leave.

 

Protesters were allowed to congregate on the adjacent public sidewalks, provided their actions did not constitute disorderly conduct, added Sgt. Lem Moore of the Wichita Police Department. Police said witnesses told them that upon exiting, Holick removed his $5 admission button, asked for his money back and threw it at Witt, striking him in the arm. The incident was witnessed by several bystanders, including one who captured it on a hand-held video recorder Moore said. Witt decided to press charges. Holick was arrested on suspicion of battery, police said.

 

"At that point we took the individual into custody," Moore said.  Some Spirit One members expressed anger over Holick's arrest. Others hoped the incident wouldn't overshadow the group's reason for protesting. "We're not against the people. We just disagree with the lifestyle," said member John McDonald said. For Bruce McKinney, who helped organize the first such parade in 1990, the protest and Holick's arrest did nothing to dampen the mood of celebration.

"Everybody I've talked to loved the park and loved the event," he said. "I really feel like it was a phenomenal day."

[Coleus]

Jaime Oppenheimer/The Wichita Eagle

People marching in the 2008 Pride Parade
walk north on Market St.
About 100 people participated in the parade.

[Hardastarboard]

"I think it's great that we can come together as family."

I always shudder when I hear a homosexual refer to "coming together", ESPECIALLY when it involves a family. Yes, I know - I hate Freudian psychiatry, too.

[Coleus]

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[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

The article reports actions by the pastor that are wrong - he went beyond handing out literature. I agree with his point of view - the Bible is clear about that. I disagree with the park being off-limits; renting out a government owned facility doesn’t turn it into private property. The pastor, as all Christians, should behave himself. Throwing something - even if it was harmless - displays arrogance. Not good for the Christians to behave in such a fashion.

[badpacifist]

Wichita Population: 344284

[Thinkin]

Just damm..
Never in my wildest dreams had I ever thought it would come to this point...

Malox ??? Rolaids ????

Nothing helps...

The sky is clear, but its raining..........

[MississippiMan]

Our society is in a death spiral of moral rot. So very sad.

MM

[doc1019]

Free speech is a thing of the past. Anyone that thinks otherwise is a fool. The 1st amendment is a liberal outlet only … conservatives need not apply.

[Thinkin]

Yes

This is what brought the glorious Roman Empire to its knees.

History repeats itself.

[Thinkin]

Sad
but true

So do we just fold our tents and move on ?
And if we resist...under what leader ???

[VOA]

Pastor arrested at gay pride festival
(Handed out flyer: Homosexuality is a sin)

At the rate things are going, that will probably be a hanging
offense within our lifetime.

Unless the Gaystapo figures out the worst thing they could do
is create a martyr that about 85% of the population would identify with.

[VOA]

For the second consecutive year, a gay pride parade and festival
was marked by the arrest of a Wichita pastor.

Keep the faith, baby!

And don't let Wichita be warped into
"San Francisco on The Arkansas" (river, that is)

[Chode]

filthy disease ridden queers strike again...

[tflabo]

Gay Pride Parade in Wichita, KS? Wow....of all places and in mid-America no less. I guess the American apple pie is getting rotten to its core!

[Thinkin]

I don’t know about you but I am so tired of being the “Silent Majority”

The more I try to “Just get along”... the worse it gets...

These people see kindness as weakness...

Kind.. Yes

Weak..NOTTA !!!

[antiRepublicrat]

Not good that he threw it, but you can see the police were there waiting for even the slightest justification to arrest him. In such circumstances the pastor should have been very careful.

But I still see this as another step towards us becoming like Canada with “hate speech” laws. And the sidewalk area where they could protest was just another version of the oxymoronic “free speech zones.”

[Dilbert San Diego]

I read that for the very 1st gay pride parade in San Diego, back in ‘73 or ‘74, the police told the organizers that they couldn’t guarantee their safety. At that time, the subject of homosexual pride and being so open about it was so shocking to people, that the police were afraid it would incite a riot.

I’m glad there was no violence, and that these parades are peaceful (if lewd sometimes). Just saying, the social climate around these events has really changed.

[tflabo]

Why is it that Gays and Lesbians have to march and parade for their proclaiming ‘rights’. How come we don’t see adulterers, fornicators, pedophiles etc... gathering together in pride marches? After all they partake in sexual deviancy too!

[ModelBreaker]

The article reports actions by the pastor that are wrong - he went beyond handing out literature. I agree with his point of view - the Bible is clear about that. I disagree with the park being off-limits; renting out a government owned facility doesn’t turn it into private property. The pastor, as all Christians, should behave himself. Throwing something - even if it was harmless - displays arrogance. Not good for the Christians to behave in such a fashion.

This is right. He wasn't arrested for speaking. He was arrested for battery. If you are going to do something the police would like to arrest you for (speaking against homo behavior) but can't, you should make sure not to do other things they can arrest you for. Because you will be arrested.