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

[Calpernia]

This is the video that was posted at WND from the first FR article on this:

http://www.afa.net/clp/videos/philly11.wmv

I just watched it. On the surface this really stinks. I can't see any blatant wrongs done by them.

I must be missing something.

[Drew68]

I'm reserving judgment. I find it hard to believe that all these people were doing was peacefully reading Bible verses.

Sounds like they were also blocking a highway and failing to disperse.

But I agree, there was more going on here. I'd like to hear about it from an objective source (and no, "WND" is not objective).

[IamConservative]

"I believe that sodomites count as an ethnicity under PA "ethnic intimidation" statutes."

Wonder how the prosecutor can tell the accused aren't "ethnic homosexuals"? Apparently, "ethnic homosexuals" can have a public gathering.

[little jeremiah]

Your comment is very telling.

This, my friends, is the official beginning of the Hatespeech era.

Quoting scripture is now a crime.

[Modernman]

What about a Clinton appointed Federal Judge?

From the article:

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.

It looks like all the Federal judge did was deny an emergency appeal request. These people are being charged in State Court.

[MaxMax]

Wrong. Many here are expressing their opinion, and this is not much
different then a Judge, according to each case by case basis.

If you would take note and read you would see clearly that many
here (including myself) would like more specific information about this
case before passing any solid judgement.

Matter of fact, I'm searching right now to find the names of those
arrested to possibly contact them and gain some facts.
Why? Because we can help our brothers and sisters. Thats why!

So there. Have a nice day.

[freeeee]

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.

I honestly don't recall that thread. I look forward to seeing what you find in the archives.

BTW, I hope these protesters are released and their rights to free speech and assembly respected. They had every right to do what they did.

[little jeremiah]

What's objective? The Washington Blade?

[malakhi]

The article is poorly written. The event was in Philadelphia, PA, not in Mississippi. Those arrested are being represented by the American Family Association, which is based in Mississippi.

[Travis McGee]

Unbelievable!
Welcome to the USSA.

[Centurion2000]

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

This is INSANE. This is america damnit ... what the h3ll is wrong with these people ?

[malakhi]

Also, this happened in Mississippi.

See my #69.

[Steve_Seattle]

"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?"

There's a fine line between protesting something and disrupting it. If people have a parade permit, others don't have a right to block the parade just because it's a public street. Now, I don't tknow whether anything like that happened, or whether the protestors were in some other sense trying to disrupt the parade. But I think that at some point speech and protest can verge into actual obstruction, and then you have a legal conundrum.

[Travis McGee]

Thanks for your input, your cases may help in Philly.

[Pyro7480]

If this is a "Godhatesfags" type of group then we may not be getting the whole story.

Not from what I could tell in the video.

[Modernman]

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.

If the historical society is publicly funded, then this is a violation. Religious groups need to be treated the same as non-religious groups in situations like this.

Keep in mind, the director might simply be ignorant, rather than malicious. A lot of people don't understand the law- they think that government bodies such as schools, community centers etc. have to exclude religious groups from using their premises or they're violating the Constitution. In reality, it's exactly the opposite.

[Edgerunner]

the California legislature mandated that all 8th graders take a 3 week course in Islam and adopt Islamic names.

This is establishing a religion...in a way...

[MaxMax]

Are you saying that being Gay is equal to a Religion?
Wow. So not only do they want marriage rights, they also
want religious protection for being Gay.

/LAFF

[msjhall]

Got it, thanks! This is very disturbing.

[mvpel]

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?

The homosexual groups had a permit from the city to run their event on the public streets. As for those protesting it, their presence was undoubtedly disruptive - that was the point, right? Whether that constitutes a violation of the law, the courts will have to decide.