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
I'm not positive about this, but I don't think Manson was convicted of murder, was he? I thought he was convicted of "conspiracy to commit murder". Two very separate charges.
Either way, it is clear that he and Hitler both instigated systematic murder. I'm not sure what Kinsey did. I'm reading several articles on him right now. However, I do believe that it is possible for a research scientist to investigate pedophilia without being a pedophile himself. Whether that was Kinsey, I don't know. I hope to find more articles on the subject.
No I didn't. My computer moves a bit too slowly for that.
Really, I am amazed at all the people that think this happened in MS. If this sort of stuff happened here, I think it would send the whole state into an uproar. The prosecutor and everyone involved in the arrest would get ran out of the state on a rail fairly quick Id imagine.
Is it possible that there could be an act of over-reach by the Established Order to which you would object on grounds of principle?
I have seen your 'Mr. Reasonable' posts on a number of topics, and they appear to exhibit a Panglossian perspective on the insulting usurpations of the modern 'progressive' state.
Or is this just some sort of patronizing devil's advocacy to instruct the less illuminated?
Mild-mannered or not, it doesn't mean that they didn't violate an ordinance requiring a permit. Now, I don't know if that's the case here, but I've seen that happen before and fall under the heading of "rioting".
Excellent letter. And DA Lynne Abraham, who BTW is NOT a christian, is one of the biggest culprits.
It's truly amazing to me that the people of this country which was founded in large part because of religious persecution do not know that Christianity has been under coordinated attack for decades.
The fact that everybody believes that it can't happen in this country is one of the main reasons that makes it so easy.
It was the same in 1930's Germany. The people where still in denial when the Allies marched them in and showed them the death camps.
Knowledgeable people have been saying for the last twenty years that the true Christian church will eventually be driven underground because of government,and civil persecution.
It's happening and at a rate in the last eight or so years that's astonishing.
This country is on the brink of becoming a third world puppet state right in front of everyone's eyes.
*evil grin*
You are too gracious. Thanks.
I thought so. ;^)
They wouldn't and haven't in the past. I was at a Republican event, on private property, that was disrupted by ACT UP. Despite my repeated pleas, and the pleas of one or two others, NOTHING was done. We had to tolerate their "acting up" for over an hour. This occurred when Thornberg was announcing his second bid for Governor of PA.
This would have NEVER happened if they had been waving the Koran and preaching Islam!
I agree.
" As for the specifics of this case, it's possible the law is overreacting here,"
The law is absolutley overreacting, my take, despite my agreement with your comment above.
Unbelievable
I guess "The City of Brotherly Love" has taken on a whole new meaning.
I think you have this just a weeeeeee bit backwards. You think as most lefties do that the left had, has, and should always have a legalized monopoly on protests. When you see people YOU don't like showing you that the right ALSO has a First Amendment right to protest, you have to duct tape your head so it won't explode. We have been silent for 40 years putting up with your insanity and you can't stand it now that we're using the same tactics on you -- EXCEPT WITHOUT THE VIOLENCE, WITHOUT THE VANDALISM, WITHOUT THE INDECENT EXPOSURE, WITHOUT THE LITTERING AND URINATING IN PUBLIC, AND WITHOUT THE GENERAL LAWLESSNESS. And that's the part that drives you nuts -- we go about honorably instead of trying to see who can be the biggest lowlife.
They think (I guess you can call it that) that rights can be taken from others without losing their own in the process. The logical disconnect is amusing, to say the least.
The ONLY time the vast majority of us in here EVER want the cops to crack heads is when ANY protesters -- left or right -- get violent or otherwise violate the law and then resist arrest. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT? The right to protest DOES NOT include the right to vandalize property or to physically attack your opponents. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT? Any protester, whether Pro-Life or Pro-Copulation-In-the-Street-In-Front-of-Children, should get their heads cracked if they break the law and THEN resist arrest. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
Most people on this site have absolutely no desire for a consistent policy applied to everyone. They singularly care about positive outcomes for favored groups.
The fact that you not only are not the least bit concerned about whether or not these Christians had their civil rights violated, but are gleeful about is proof that YOU are the one who "singularly cares about positive outcomes for YOUR favorite groups".
Well hypocrites you've made your own bed. Now lay in it.
You would have to get out of it first.
Yeah, I get what you're saying, but a couple of points point in another direction: First, the charges of "ethnic intimidation," and second, the fact that those who were actually reading Bible verses got more severe charges.
MM
I wholeheartedly support free speech and assembly for all peaceable protesters. I honestly couldn't care less who they are or what their message is. I support the rights of the protesters in the article. I believe they are being oppressed because of their beliefs and denied their unalienable rights for which so many good men and women have paid for with their blood, sweat and tears.
The ONLY time the vast majority of us in here EVER want the cops to crack heads is when ANY protesters -- left or right -- get violent or otherwise violate the law and then resist arrest. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
The rank hypocrisy around here concerning free speech and assembly is legendary. I can't count how many threads and how many hundreds upon hundreds of posters have been positively giddy at news of any protester they don't like being beaten, arrested and charged. Go read some of the threads around the time of the conventions. They speak for themselves.
And "otherwise violate the law" is the big sticker in that statement of yours. Lately, protest outside of designated "free speech zones" has been deemed unlawful. That is blatantly unconstitutional, as the 1st Amendment declares the entire US a free speech zone. Peacefully protesting outside these zones is an act of patriotism. Those who applaud those patriots misfortunes at the hands of authorities are nothing but brown shirts and this board is filled with them.
The fact that you not only are not the least bit concerned about whether or not these Christians had their civil rights violated, but are gleeful about is proof that YOU are the one who "singularly cares about positive outcomes for YOUR favorite groups".
I'm not gleeful about it, I'm horrified. You couldn't be more wrong about my thoughts on this.
Therefore when thou dost an alms-deed, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honoured by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth.
That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.
And when ye pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, that love to stand and pray in the synagogues and corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men: Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.
But thou when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, and having shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret, and thy father who seeth in secret will repay thee. And when you are praying, speak not much, as the heathens. For they think that in their much speaking they may be heard. Be not you therefore like to them for your Father knoweth what is needful for you, before you ask him."
***
But that passage is about PRAYING and GIVING. It can't possibly be about preaching the Gospel which by definition has to be done in public.
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