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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: Bluegrass Conservative

Isn't that like saying Charles Manson was only researching murder for his concept album?


161 posted on 12/16/2004 9:19:49 AM PST by massgopguy (massgopguy)
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To: Bluegrass Conservative
Okay, with the exception of the "considered sex with animals was normal", shouldn't any researcher worth his salt be inquiring about the abnormal sexual activity as well?

Are you for real? Does your definition of legitimate research include hiring people to masturbate infants to orgasm?

Tell my you are joking.

162 posted on 12/16/2004 9:20:11 AM PST by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: Steve_Seattle
Good point.

Correcting those who will not receive correction is futile (Mt 7:1-5; Prov 9:8; 23:9); we should discerningly continue to offer wisdom (or the gift of the kingdom) only to those willing to receive what we offer, just as God does (Mt 7:7-11). While God does not allow us to prejudge who may receive our message (Mt 13:3-23), but does forbid us to try to force it on those who show no inclination to accept it. (Mt 10:13-16)

Makes alot of sense to me.

163 posted on 12/16/2004 9:20:57 AM PST by BureaucratusMaximus ("We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good" - Hillary Clinton)
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To: little jeremiah
. . . espoused it, promoted it, and paid others to commite sex crimes against children. . .

Did he really do this? Or did he just study and write about it? There is a huge difference in those two things.

164 posted on 12/16/2004 9:21:30 AM PST by Bluegrass Conservative
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To: Bluegrass Conservative

Have you even read one of my comments in its entirety? He PAID A PEDOPHILE TO RAPE CHILDREN AND USED THOSE FINDINGS AS "RESEARCH".

Please stop your apologetics for Kinsey. Research on child sexual abuse means finding the poor children who have already been abused and seeing what happened to their lives.

Kinsey was hiring a pervert criminal to rape and molest children for one purpose - listen carefully - TO JUSTIFY CHILD/ADULT SEX - TO "PROVE" THAT CHILDREN ENJOY SEX WITH ADULTS!

Read what Dr. Reisman has to say. She's done the research.
http://www.drjudithreisman.org/


165 posted on 12/16/2004 9:21:50 AM PST by little jeremiah (What would happen if everyone decided their own "right and wrong"?)
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To: OpusatFR

I would like to know how many of the 'parade participants' were actually Philly residents and how many of them are from the 'Flash Mob' circuit that gets bussed in to all of these large gathering events and protests.

About Flash Mobs:

http://www.flashmob.com/

http://flashmob.info/

http://www.flash-mob.com/

MoveOn organizes sign ups for 'mob' events often. Sample recruit for event letter:

MoveOn.org PAC - Flash Mobs for Democracy
Fen Labalme fen at comedia.com
Thu Sep 11 12:38:34 PDT 2003

Dear MoveOn member,

The outcome of the California recall will come down to this: the side that gets more people out to vote wins. Those behind the recall are counting on poor turnout. That's why we need to make sure that every friend, family member and colleague votes.

There is one fantastically simple way to do that: give them mail ballot request forms and make sure they complete and send them in. If everyone receiving this email did that with 10 like-minded friends, family members and colleagues, we could increase voter turnout against the recall by one million votes. Click below to print out your mail ballot
request forms:

http://moveon.org/pac/recall/register/

/copy


166 posted on 12/16/2004 9:22:24 AM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: Steve_Seattle

Please address 109, which was to you. I guess you missed it.

Do you think I am lying about the thrust of my point at 109?


167 posted on 12/16/2004 9:23:46 AM PST by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: jwalsh07

Thank you j!


168 posted on 12/16/2004 9:24:25 AM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: Chemist_Geek
My opinion is that making an ass of oneself isn't the best possible way to witness... Furthermore, the idea that these people are being prosecuted due to their Christianity is downright silly. They're being prosecuted for, in general, being disorderly in public.

Amen! I remember a few years back there was a "pastor" who came into Ashland, Kentucky to lead protests against the gay-club at the local high school. Now the common will was against the club as well, but the local pastors believed that this "pastor" was on the payroll of some gay organization. He purposefully looked like a bigoted fool to entice people to sympathize with the homosexual organizations. Could this be a case of that as well?

169 posted on 12/16/2004 9:26:02 AM PST by Bluegrass Conservative
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To: little jeremiah

I would rather live my life as if there is a God,
And die to find out there isn't,
Than live my life as if there isn't,
And die to find out there is.


170 posted on 12/16/2004 9:28:00 AM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: OB1kNOb
They'd be facing less time if they had committed rape.

This is the goal of the homosexual movement and their left-wing allies in this nation -- to criminalize any opposition to their behavior. Free speech has already been eliminated on the topic in Canada and this appears to be a move in that direction here.

171 posted on 12/16/2004 9:28:46 AM PST by Ol' Sparky
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To: Travis McGee

I do not support the police arresting people merely for setting up a table with Biblical literature, and I do not accept the notion that the mere expression of Christian opinions constitutes a "provocation." If that was what happened in Philadelphia, then I totally support the protestors as a matter of law, even if I think their method of evangelism is misguided. But some of us were just trying to verify what actually happened there, and whether there was anything in the protestors behavior which might have made some sense of the charges.


172 posted on 12/16/2004 9:29:44 AM PST by Steve_Seattle
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To: Bluegrass Conservative
He purposefully looked like a bigoted fool to entice people to sympathize with the homosexual organizations. Could this be a case of that as well?

Dunno, but that's a well-known tactic 'cause it works great. Most people don't live and breathe the news and issues like we do...

173 posted on 12/16/2004 9:30:30 AM PST by Chemist_Geek ("Drill, R&D, and conserve" should be our watchwords! Energy independence for America!)
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To: little jeremiah
Anyone who bears witness to a pedophilic act and doesn't intervene is guilty of facilitating that act.

(no, I don't know the legal end. I know my beliefs)
174 posted on 12/16/2004 9:30:53 AM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: Calpernia

That's what Pascal said. There are 4 choices:

1. God exists and I believe He does.

2. God exists and I don't believe He does.

3. God doesn't exist and I believe He does.

4. God doesn't exist and I believe He doesn't.

Which is the worst choice, and which is the best?


And a wonderful thing is that if a person chooses (1), God will reveal His presence and existence to the degree of personal surrender. So it's not "blind faith", it's realized truth. And that's the truth!


175 posted on 12/16/2004 9:33:51 AM PST by little jeremiah (What would happen if everyone decided their own "right and wrong"?)
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To: Calpernia

Might one legal term be "accessory to a crime"?


176 posted on 12/16/2004 9:34:31 AM PST by little jeremiah (What would happen if everyone decided their own "right and wrong"?)
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To: Edgerunner
why do you remain here if it's sooooo terrible?

It wasn't always like this. The purpose of this website is sound, and I hope it one day regains its original focus found here

Maybe you live with perfect people and are just pointing out our failure to live up to your god-like expectations.

It isn't a god like expectation to treat others the way you expect to be treated. In fact its basic decency.

It's a FREE COUNTRY

That's funny.

177 posted on 12/16/2004 9:35:37 AM PST by freeeee ("Owning" property in the US just means you have one less landlord.)
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To: little jeremiah
Before you defend Kinsey any more, please inform yourself. Do a search. Read what those who have studied his life and works have to say. Was Hitler less guilty because he didn't personally torture and kill any Jews?

I wasn't defending. Just merely inquiring. Did Kinsey instigate the abuse? Or just study what was happening regardless of his involvement? Hitler instigated the torture and murder of the Jews.

178 posted on 12/16/2004 9:36:00 AM PST by Bluegrass Conservative
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To: Bluegrass Conservative
Okay, with the exception of the "considered sex with animals was normal", shouldn't any researcher worth his salt be inquiring about the abnormal sexual activity as well?

Sure, he should then report the pedophiles to the local authorities so they can be placed in stocks for the duration of their miserable lives.

179 posted on 12/16/2004 9:36:55 AM PST by jwalsh07
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To: little jeremiah

Maybe. Personally I agree. I tend to stay away from blatantly quoting legal that I have no background knowledge in when the DU fancy speaking trolls are around. They seem to have taken classes in filibustering. And if you can't properly express yourself, they twist the point.

I see a few known ones here on this thread now.

So if 'accessory to a crime' is the correct law, then yes.


180 posted on 12/16/2004 9:40:37 AM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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