Christians Thrown Out: Baseball Execs Eject Biblical Message from Homosexual Event

Agape Press ^ | 8/18/03 | Jim Brown

[truthandlife]

Four Christians were recently kicked out of Veterans Stadium during the Philadelphia Phillies' "Gay Community Day."

Last Tuesday, Michael Marcavage and three friends brought a banner to the ballpark that read "Homosexuality is sin, Christ can set you free." He says their intention was to share that biblical message of hope with homosexuals who were at the stadium. [See Earlier Story]

Seven minutes after unfurling their banner from their centerfield seats, however, the group was approached by security. Marcavage says the four were told that they could not display their banner.

"They basically said that the [Phillies] executives said this banner must come down. And we questioned them, because there were other banners in the stadium as well," he says.

Marcavage says while their banner with its Christian message was prohibited, several other banners were permitted in the park that day, including an oversized rainbow flag waved by a homosexual man. Marcavage says he and his friends challenged the singling out of their group when others in the park were being allowed to display their messages without incident.

"We basically questioned them, asking if they could have their banners, why couldn't we have ours. They said 'Well, it's the content of the message,'" Marcavage explains.

He speculates that the Philadelphia team's corporate owners may have feared negative publicity. In any case, based on the Christian group's choice to display a message from the Word of God that might have convicted some members of the crowd, Phillies executives decided that neither the banner nor its bearers had any place in the park. Shortly after security ordered them to take down their banner, the four were escorted from the stadium.

Marcavage says although they were asked to leave the ballpark, they did have their money refunded and each received a free ticket to another Phillies game.

[goodnesswins]

Uh...I don't know....are they going to have a "CHRISTIAN Community Day?"

[goodnesswins]

Uh...I don't know....are they going to have a "CHRISTIAN Community Day?"

[TheAngryClam]

Actually, the first Philadelphia (in Egypt) commemorated Ptolemy II Philadelphos, so named because he married his sister.

These guys, at least, weren't practicing incest.

[PAR35]

Are you suggesting that Veterans Staduim is private property?
http://www.phila.gov/recreation/history/index.html

[jsbankston]

Don't you believe the owners of the stadium have the right to market to whoever they want?

The team as well as Disney World sponsor Gay Days for one reason, gays are typically DINKS and not only have high income but a great deal of it is disposable.

[Belial]

Uh...I don't know....are they going to have a "CHRISTIAN Community Day?"

Dunno...ask the owner. It's between him and you. Lobby for it. If there's a market for it, it will happen.

[PAR35]

Don't you believe the owners of the stadium have the right to market to whoever they want?

Not when the owner is the government/taxpayers. Content based censorship by the government is frowned upon.

[Belial]

The team as well as Disney World sponsor Gay Days for one reason, gays are typically DINKS and not only have high income but a great deal of it is disposable.

How terrible! That sounds like capitalism. The owners should only market to groups approved by the Theocratic State Authority. That's the ticket.

[jsbankston]

The city owns the stadium but the team leases the Vet thereby granting the team property rights to the stadium.

[Jhoffa_]

If you would have bothered to read the post before knee jerking, it was addressing other deviants and special "days" to "honor" their behavior.

It could just as easily be Larry Flynt and "pet chicken" day.

[sinkspur]

Not when the owner is the government/taxpayers. Content based censorship by the government is frowned upon.

The Phillies are the lessee. Typically, lessees operate like owners for the time they occupy a piece of property.

Look at the baseball ticket. It states, I'm sure, "We reserve to the right to refuse admittance or to remove anyone at our discretion."

If these folks wanted to protest, they're free to protest OUTSIDE the stadium. Inside, they're at the mercy of the proprietors.

[Zeroisanumber]

I'd expect similar treatment if I unfurled a banner reading "All Hail the Great Lord Satan" at a Promise Keeper's event. The only thing that I find unusual about this article is that the banner holders were so suprised.

[Caipirabob]

So much for Baseball being a "Man's Game".

[jsbankston]

I really doubt the validity of this.

Actually, it would be difficult for a gay couple (DINK) to have children thus giving them much more disposable income than a married couple with children. Those with more disposable income and more time tend to spend more money on entertainment events such as the opera, ballet, concerts, gym memberships, fine dining and sporting events.

[Jhoffa_]

"Yes, it's crackhead day here at Veterans Stadium and, the pipe is out! WHOA! It's a long, long hit in center field.. and wait a minute! Wait a minute! Wait-a-minute..! The umpire has called a foul for Bogarting and it looks like there's going to be a timeout over damp rocks in the dugout.. "

[fortunecookie]

Next time, they'll just be thrown onto the field for some 7th inning stretch 'entertainment'. Harassment determined by the crowds. (Is that a violin I hear?...)

[fortunecookie]

Meanwhile...30,000 other Christians got to stay.

How many of those were 'so-called' Christians? We'll never know, but some are probably Christian like the new gay Episcopal bishop.

Message sent and received. Christians are tolerated (how generous) as long as they don't make any waves.

I'd be curious to see what kind of other homemade banners were displayed.