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
Which raises even more questions- I find it hard to believe that a judge in Mississippi would allow charges like this to stand unless there was some real substance to them.
ping
The "instruments of crime" were Bible verses and Bibles.
I've heard the claim of 10% of Americans. I don't believe that number one bit. I would hazard to guess that 5% of Americans have engaged in homosexual activity, and that possibly 2% are homosexual.
Such a law is unconstitutional, and will be struck down...Seems the people of Philadelphia have fallen all the way to the bottom of the pit. Sad this would happen in the town that started it all...Time to awaken them!
Source, please.
Also, this happened in Mississippi. How many MS judges would let charges like this stand against a group of Christians unless there was some real substance to them?
Its not all the judges fault. They were arrested by the police, and somebody is prosecuting the case.
Why do you think that homosexuals have a right to a festival on the public streets and those who want to protest it don't a right to do so?
WTF? It wasn't in a private building, or grounds. There were no barriers, no admission fees. It was just in the regular, public, open streets.
"This is Mississippi not Pennsylvania.
Which raises even more questions- I find it hard to believe that a judge in Mississippi would allow charges like this to stand unless there was some real substance to them."
What about a Clinton appointed Federal Judge?
To finish my thought: people have a right to criticize religion, but they don't have a right to disrupt church services; this would be criminal trespass. So I'm guessing the Christian protestors were in some sense trying to disrupt or impede the parade, a parade which probably had a legal permit and which therefore enjoyed a right to use of the public street without interruption. But I could be wrong, and maybe it was just as it was presented in the story - people being arrested merely for criticizing homosexuality.
I suspected as much, but we will need more legal advise like this. We are just beginning to gather our forces and will make this a legal fight. In fact, other groups do meet at the same facility. We are being excluded strictly on religious grounds. The director of the historical society indicated so over the telephone. We have asked for an explanation in writing so we can create a paper trail. Then we go to work. I'll keep y'all posted.
A NYC police officer was fired because he refused a direct order from his supervisor to take a homeless guy trespassing in a private parking garage into custody. He said it was a matter of conscience and you backed him up on it.
If anyone doubts there are this kind of people in the legal system, all they have to do is read FR and they will find plenty of people who would be quite willing to jail Christians for praying in front of homosexuals, or abortionists or whatever is the cause of the day for the radicals.
The Gays disrupt the St. Patrick's Day parade in South Boston every year. They don't get prosecuted. Gays threw condoms at newly ordained priest at Holy Cross Cathedral, they did not get prosecuted.
Impeachment
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