Christians Face 47 Years in Prison Because Philly Judge Calls Bible Verses

Raiders News Update ^ | 12/16/04 | Kathryn Hooks

[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

[little jeremiah]

You can add to your list the Republic headquarters around the country that were vandalized - windows broken, staffers hassled, computers stolen, signs wrecked, and now the huge list of Nativity scenes damaged and religious statues defaced and broken.

It's much more than usual. It's uncannily reminiscent of the rise of Nazism.

[Bluegrass Conservative]

To be honest, I interpreted your responses of not only defending Kinsey; but of defending the actions he took. Just lending some insight to how you came across to more than one person.

My apologies. That was never my intent whatsoever. I think that because of our conservative philosophies constantly coming under attack, most FReepers are guilty of assuming someone is disagreeing with them before actually giving them the benefit of the doubt. I am guilty of that as well and recognize that fact. Additionally, while FR is a GREAT service, it's too bad we can't hear tone of voice or see body language when questions are asked. That sometimes makes a big difference.

I apologize for phrasing things in such a way that misrepresented what my intent was.

[B Knotts]

Did you watch the tape?

[Edgerunner]

Guess that's why I like it here...

[Abundy]

Watch the video. They did nothing wrong...and in fact, the parade attendees were much more disorderly than the people arrested.

Nothing was done to anyone except the christians. They were not loud (you couldn't hear them over the parade people) and they were not violent. They moved when requested, but eventually balked at being told to go one way down a public street when they wanted to walk in the other direction.

Meanwhile, the police on scene ignored parage attendees linking arms and blocking public sidewalks - clearly a violation of law occurring in the presence of the officers which allows them to make an on-view arrest without a warrant.

The case stinks to high heaven on a number of levels. The fact that the content of the speech is the criteria for a number of the charges is particulary offensive from a constitutional perspective.

[Bluegrass Conservative]

Rights don't require permits, priviledges do. Free assembly is a right, not a priviledge. Constitutionally, it cannot be tied to a permit any more than prayer can.

Courts have long held that cities can require permits for demonstrations. I'm not sure the permit application can be denied, but the city has to be informed.

[TAdams8591]

Absolutely Agreed. This must be done!!!!!!!!!

[Bluegrass Conservative]

I watched the video. It appeared they were on a sidewalk and not the road. Now were they staying in one place. The continuously kept trying to relocated and were stopped by 'parade attendees' with signs caging them in.

Sounds like the "attendees" saw a window of opportunity and exploited it. Shame on them.

The protesters should have been smart enough to not get ensnared in that as well though.

[freeeee]

Thanks, Edgerunner. BTW, I don't care who joined FR when. Members of FR should be judged according to their character, not their born on date.

[Chunga]

Please be accurate when quoting the Bible.

[MississippiMan]

Typically, "riot" charges involve an unruly crowd that assembles on public property without going through a license application process. Could that be what this is?

I've seen descriptions of the activity as seen on the video. Mild-mannered Christians holding some banners with Bible verses, calmly reading Bible verses while being taunted and harrassed constantly by militant acting homos. The bottom line is that they're being charged because they "disparaged" homosexuals.

MM

[TheForceOfOne]

Liberals want to take you out of the 21 century and transport you to the first century A.D. where disciples of Christ are being persecuted. You are a Christian, but you are facing opposition from the Liberals and Government. Anyone who publicly acknowledges that they are a Christian is condemned to be thrown to the lions. Liberal/ACLU guards wander the streets, interrogating common conservatives in order to eliminate unwanted Christians. There is a secret gathering of Christians in a yet-to-be-disclosed secret location where you will join your brothers and sisters in a "underground church" meeting. Along the way you may be approached by one of the guards, who will simply ask you, "Liberal or Christian?" If you reply, "Liberal" you will not be held any longer and you will be sent on your way. If you reply, "Christian," you will be taken to a holding cell to await your fate with the lions or if you are lucky a liberal court of law where you will be given a long jail sentence for being a menace to society trying to spread outdated moral values. Picture yourself in such a society and all you have to do is sit on your hands and wait.

[Travis McGee]

Yes it is. Many "little Kristallnachts" are going on, testing the limits of our police.

[MississippiMan]

This is Mississippi not Pennsylvania.

NO. This is the AFA (American Family Association), which is headquartered in Tupelo, MS, commenting on the events and prosecution in Philadelphia, PA.

MM

[Travis McGee]

225: Well said.

[Calpernia]

It is not always clear on a message board. I just wanted to let you know what I saw. Not that what I saw was 'what you meant'.

Bump to you.

[I'm ALL Right!]

I doubt this story is making the mainstream news there. I wonder how many people actually know it's happening? The church needs to be mobilized quickly! If you live there, call your pastor! Call your friends, have them do the same. With e-mail, automated-calling etc, mobilizing the Christian community shouldn't be that difficult.

What may be difficult is getting Christians to really understand the danger that is looming, and get them off their backsides and down to the courthouse en masse. That's probably what the pink enemy is counting on!

[freeeee]

Courts have long held that cities can require permits for demonstrations.

Courts do lots of unconstitutional things. They think the Constitution is a list of suggestions to be discarded at the first inconvenience.

I'm not sure the permit application can be denied

That usually depends on how sympathetic the local authorities are to the protesters. Which of course is the complete opposite of the intent of the 1st Amendment. Popular speech requires no protection.

but the city has to be informed

I disagree, but even so a permit is an application to be approved or denied. It is an entire different animal than a notice, which asks no permission.

[TAdams8591]

The D.A.'s office, under LYIN' LYNNE ABRAHAM likes to give these cases to Judge William Austin Meehan, a Republican (whose father was the party boss for the Republican Party for years rendering it an arm of the democratic party), to make it appear as though the office is being fair and politically non-biased. Meehan watered down the charges of the first two Teamsters we had prosecuted, and was then asked to recuse himself from Don's prosecution (to which he was assigned also) because he had presided over the preliminary hearing of the first two Teamsters.

Let's see if he waters down the charges of these 11.

[Calpernia]

>>> Sounds like the "attendees" saw a window of opportunity and exploited it. Shame on them.

On the audio of the tape, the Christian protestors tried to inform the police and some man in a suit that seemed to be in charge that the 'parade attendees' had posted on their website that they planned to use their big signs to block them.

I do know that when we do 'freeps' with the FR Network we have to get permits. But that is when we assemble in one place. The Christian protestors appeared to be moving and moble in the video clip. So I'm not sure if they needed one. I don't know the rules about that.