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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: OB1kNOb

bttt


281 posted on 12/16/2004 8:34:40 PM PST by diamond6 (Everyone who is for abortion has already been born. Ronald Reagan)
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To: Mark Felton; OB1kNOb
Jesus said "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword." -- Mathew 10:34

I know that's right, and that sword dividing the sheep from the goats couldn't be more obvious. You can't straddle the fence anymore, you have to choose today who you will serve, and then fight for it!

I just watched the video, we can't stand for this. If Christians don't get up now and make some real noise, SHAME on them. It's time to fight the good fight of faith, not just talk or we will lose all we have to the likes of the pink angels and george "666" soros.





WAKE UP AMERICA
"Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faiths, but to become dominant. The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth."
-Omar Ahmad,
Co-founder of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, aka CAIR
President and CEO of Silicon Expert Technologies
A Palestinian who grew up in a refugee camp in Jordan.
ANTI-Cair -- Little Green Footballs -- JIHAD Watch -- DHIMMI Watch -- internet haganáh -- FaithFreedom -- Answering Islam -- Daniel Pipes -- Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) -- MEMRI TV-Videos

282 posted on 12/16/2004 8:39:25 PM PST by Agitate (Glad to be a Kafir-Crusader-Zionist. "You will know the truth, and the truth will make you mad.")
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To: 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.


It's uncannily reminiscent of the rise of Bolshevism.
283 posted on 12/16/2004 8:45:34 PM PST by beanspiller
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To: beanspiller

It's time to dump the tea. I just don't how it'll start. I'm not a revolutionary; I'm a mild mannered bumbler. But if things don't turn around, quickly, at a sharp angle, it's off the abyss we go.


284 posted on 12/16/2004 8:55:54 PM PST by little jeremiah (The "Gay Agenda" exists only in the minds of little jeremiah and his cohort. - Modern Man)
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To: Zhangliqun

Finally someone nailed it. Those verses had no application in this situation whatsoever.


285 posted on 12/16/2004 8:59:11 PM PST by little jeremiah (The "Gay Agenda" exists only in the minds of little jeremiah and his cohort. - Modern Man)
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To: little jeremiah
It's time to dump the tea. I just don't how it'll start. I'm not a revolutionary; I'm a mild mannered bumbler. But if things don't turn around, quickly, at a sharp angle, it's off the abyss we go.

Things are definately heating up here in "free" America and the future will be interesting, to say the least.
286 posted on 12/16/2004 9:05:37 PM PST by beanspiller
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To: Agitate

Christ showed that we should not fear the authorities but be bold and bring the word of God to EVERYONE who needs it.

Would Christ have stayed away from public schools or town squares or government buildings if he thought people there needed to hear the word?

No! He would have suffered arrest, and torture, and death.

He suffered to set us an expample to follow.

Christ said pick up your cross and follow me or you are not worthy of me.

He showed us how to win. We need to take the word to all of these places and not leave unless forced out at gunpoint!


We need to start nationwide "Pray-Ins" at public schools, and not stop until we are all in jail, or the laws get changed.


287 posted on 12/16/2004 10:08:38 PM PST by Mark Felton (We are free because we are Christian. There is no other reason.)
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To: Travis McGee

Thank you.

BTW, eagerly awaiting EFADII...and a visit by the author to the East Coast.

/hint


288 posted on 12/17/2004 5:24:27 AM PST by Abundy
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To: tutstar; Nightshift

Don't want to lose track of this one!


289 posted on 12/17/2004 5:27:01 AM PST by tutstar ( <{{--->< http://ripe4change.4-all.org Violations of Florida Statutes ongoing!)
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To: 1john2 3and4
You would have to get out of it first.

That was a zinger! Have a joyous, panglossian day. ;^)

290 posted on 12/17/2004 7:02:34 AM PST by headsonpikes (Spirit of '76 bttt!)
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To: Mark Felton
"We need to start nationwide "Pray-Ins" at public schools, and not stop until we are all in jail, or the laws get changed."

I strongly disagree. Pray-ins are NOT the answer. They will turn people off in droves.

291 posted on 12/17/2004 7:05:28 AM PST by TAdams8591 (Not to be confused with tdadams!!!!)
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To: Abundy

Don't hold your breath waiting for Domestic Enemies. If I do very well, it will be nearly a year before it's ready...


292 posted on 12/17/2004 7:41:13 AM PST by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: yarddog

It appears there is a group, which to me seems organized, who seize on these stories and make little snide remarks against Christians.
You know they all somehow come to the same conclusion that these stories are suspect because they are reported by Christians.

I have seen these groups jump on similar stories here on FR before. Almost seems like they notify each other.




I have notice the same! Seems like they want there to be valid reasons for charges against Christians. If there were more to it [as a few posts suggest] it would not be missed by the MSM it would be in our face for weeks on the MSM.


293 posted on 12/17/2004 7:44:56 AM PST by free_life
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To: Steve_Seattle

Have you naysayer's even watched the video?

What's with this - the sodomites must have been abused somehow crap? These were Christians expressing their free speech on a public street, speaking out against the sodomite agenda that is being forced on even our children.

It is evident that there is number of FR's who are anti-Christian or to put more directly anti-Christ.


294 posted on 12/17/2004 7:57:03 AM PST by free_life
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To: little jeremiah

Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your posts in this thread.

Kudos


295 posted on 12/17/2004 8:31:32 AM PST by free_life
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To: Bluegrass Conservative

After reading your numerous posts in this thread, I am about to coin a new term, "Blue Conservative".


296 posted on 12/17/2004 8:38:02 AM PST by free_life
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To: Bluegrass Conservative
However, I do believe that it is possible for a research scientist to investigate pedophilia without being a pedophile himself. What is there to research? Pedophillia is sick, perverted, and pedophiles will burn. My God, BC you give me a quizzie feeling in my gut. You got a dark secret?
297 posted on 12/17/2004 8:51:30 AM PST by free_life
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To: TAdams8591
I strongly disagree. Pray-ins are NOT the answer. They will turn people off in droves. Like how Jesus turned off people at the steps of the temple? How about we just sing Kumbyeya and smile alot?
298 posted on 12/17/2004 9:08:50 AM PST by free_life
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To: 2banana

"First Amendment "privileges" are now reserved for those who agree with the social policies of the media and of City Hall. Disagreement brings marginality and arrest."

Hang tight Christian brothers and sisters. More of this evilness to come before the end comes. I am going to go out on a limb and say that within the next decade it will be a crime to speak about the bible at all or to even own one.


299 posted on 12/17/2004 9:11:23 AM PST by quant5
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To: OB1kNOb

Bump.

Please keep us posted. If true, this is very, very bad news.


300 posted on 12/17/2004 9:11:46 AM PST by k2blader (It is neither compassionate nor conservative to support the expansion of socialism.)
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