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Judge rules against Christians who preached to Homosexuals
Worldnetdaily.com ^ | Feb. 4, 2005

Posted on 02/05/2005 6:04:56 AM PST by FeeinTennessee

Judge rules against Christians who preached to homosexuals

'Philly 5' lose round in federal court, prosecutors get away with calling defendants' words 'hateful'

Posted: February 4, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

In another blow to the "Philly 5" – the Philadelphia Christians facing possible 47 year jail terms for evangelizing at a homosexual event – a federal judge has refused a request to stop the local prosecution of the group.

Judge Petrese B. Tucker, for the second time, has refused to sanction the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office for what the Christians' attorneys say are "retaliatory criminal proceedings."

According to the American Family Association Center for Law & Policy, which is representing the Christians on the federal level, Tucker denied the request for relief last week, saying the Philly 5 had "insufficient evidence ... regarding why any of the defendants would want to stifle their First Amendment rights."

The group's attorneys had presented as evidence their clients' First Amendment rights were violated the fact that Assistant District Attorney Charles Ehrlich told an earlier court proceeding the Christians' religious speech was "hateful, disgusting, despicable words," and "fighting words."

As WorldNetDaily reported, on Oct. 10, a group of 11 Christians was "preaching God's Word" to a crowd of people attending the Philadelphia "OutFest" event and displaying banners with biblical messages.

After a confrontation with a group called the Pink Angels, described by protesters as "a militant mob of homosexuals," the Christians were arrested and spent a night in jail.

Eight charges were filed: criminal conspiracy, possession of instruments of crime, reckless endangerment of another person, ethnic intimidation, riot, failure to disperse, disorderly conduct and obstructing highways.

None of the Pink Angels was cited or arrested.

After a preliminary hearing in December, Judge William Austin Meehan ordered four of the Christians to stand trial on three felony and five misdemeanor charges. If convicted, they could each get a maximum of 47 years in prison. One female teenage protester faces charges in the juvenile justice system.

Brian Fahling is senior trial attorney for the law center.

Said Fahling in a statement: "The law requires us to show bad faith or retaliation by the D.A.'s office; we established that beyond argument with a videotape of the entire incident that shows our clients peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights, then being arrested and charged with crimes that carry a potential for 47 years imprisonment, and a district attorney's office that retaliated against them because it hates their speech.

"It is difficult to conceive of more compelling evidence of bad faith and retaliation than what we have presented to the court in this case."

Fahling colleague Michael DePrimo added: "There has never been a stronger case for federal court intervention based upon allegations of bad faith and retaliation than [the Philly 5] presented to Judge Tucker. … Prior to taking the bench, Judge Tucker was an assistant district attorney for Philadelphia for eight years; she is undoubtedly aware that peaceful expression of First Amendment rights is not criminal."

The next hearing date scheduled for the Christians is Feb. 17, when the court will consider their motion to dismiss the case. Seventeen-year-old Lauren Murch's trial date is Feb. 18.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: chrisianity; christians; freespeech; outfest; philly5; phily5; ruling
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Freedom of speech means nothing anymore?
1 posted on 02/05/2005 6:04:56 AM PST by FeeinTennessee
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To: FeeinTennessee
Freedom of speech means nothing anymore?

Apparenly "free speech" is OKAY for Pink Angels and other non-Christian, white, Euro folks....in Philly. The P.C. thought police judges are at it again, using their benches as THEIR "bully pulpit."

2 posted on 02/05/2005 6:08:31 AM PST by starfish923
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To: FeeinTennessee
We sit in abject fear as the Socialist Left (NAZI's) take over America.

Except some of us will not tolerate this type of Government, so let them be forewarned.
3 posted on 02/05/2005 6:09:58 AM PST by stockpirate (Kerry & Democrats; supported, financed, trained, guided, revered, in favor of, Communists.)
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To: FeeinTennessee

Freedom of speech in the modern era means the Left is free to speak and the Right is free to keep its collective trap shut. Just like freedom of religion means freedom for the Left to drive anything religious out of the public sphere, at their preference. Just like freedom to assemble means freedom to assemble with homosexual activists attempting to pervert your organization with militant Marxist ideology, whether you like it or not. Just like freedom from unreasonable search and seizure only applies if nobody has written the word "drug" on the file. Just like freedom from excessive punishment doesn't apply to the politically unpopular, etc., etc., etc.


4 posted on 02/05/2005 6:13:23 AM PST by thoughtomator (The Democrat party is a bribery racket)
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To: starfish923

Let me guess: Judge Tucker is a black female? Affirmative action appointee? If I am wrong let me know.


5 posted on 02/05/2005 6:14:40 AM PST by Conservatrix ("He's a barf." --- Sophia T., Age 4, on John Sawed-Off Baldrick "I have a cunning plan" Kerry)
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To: stockpirate

I would recommend that conservatives who lives in a blue state move out. Find a job in a red state where freedoms are not as restricted. Leave the blue states to the leftists and watch them be destroyed.


6 posted on 02/05/2005 6:14:49 AM PST by shubi (Peace through superior firepower.)
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To: FeeinTennessee; All
"the Pink Angels"

These are the "real" hateful bastards.

7 posted on 02/05/2005 6:16:02 AM PST by davisfh
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Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: FeeinTennessee

Second Amendment anyone?!


9 posted on 02/05/2005 6:18:38 AM PST by zzen01
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To: Conservatrix

Bingo! Black appointed by Clinton.


10 posted on 02/05/2005 6:20:51 AM PST by mlc9852
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To: FeeinTennessee

Ethnic intimidation, eh?

What race describes people who basically do not procreate and on average die prematurely from sexually transmitted diseases?


11 posted on 02/05/2005 6:21:35 AM PST by Tax Government (Boycott and defeat the Legacy Media. Become a monthly contributor to FR.)
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To: FeeinTennessee
I wonder when they're going to build a Circus Maximus and start throwing us into the arena with lions ...
12 posted on 02/05/2005 6:25:49 AM PST by Marauder (I drink to make other people more interesting.)
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To: FeeinTennessee
HE told us these things might happen

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Matthew 5:10-11

13 posted on 02/05/2005 6:27:22 AM PST by peteram
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To: FeeinTennessee

HATEFUL? My GOD - what these folks were preaching are word of LOVE - They were preaching because they wanted these homosexuals to find Jesus Christ who can set them free from their sinful lifestyle.

We now can be 100% certain that the prosecutor in this case is NOT a Christian.

If the Philly 5 gets completely railroaded in this case, I see it as a huge step towards the elimination of our "Freedom of speech" and an even bigger blow to Christianity.

I fear that the "end" is far closer than many concede.


14 posted on 02/05/2005 6:35:16 AM PST by TheBattman (Islam (and liberals)- the cult of Satan)
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To: FeeinTennessee
"It is difficult to conceive of more compelling evidence of bad faith and retaliation than what we have presented to the court in this case."

In that case, the prosecution is guilty of a federal felony, 'Conspiracy Against Rights' covered under 18 USC 241. Absent a federal prosecution, I suspect the 'evidence' may be less compelling than is claimed.

15 posted on 02/05/2005 6:40:15 AM PST by Grut
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To: Conservatrix
Judge Petrese B. Tucker

Bet you're right!

16 posted on 02/05/2005 6:44:03 AM PST by Tax-chick (Wielder of the Dread Words of Power, "Bless your heart, honey!")
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To: Grut

the evidence is readily available for you to make your own judgment on... look through some of the previous threads on this topic for links to the videos, etc.


17 posted on 02/05/2005 6:45:15 AM PST by kpp_kpp
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To: mlc9852
...appointed by Clinton.

Now THIS is a case for an executive branch pardon. Too bad nobody has the stones for it.

18 posted on 02/05/2005 6:51:57 AM PST by sayfer bullets
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To: FeeinTennessee

But being a psuedo-Indian and calling 9-11 victims Nazis is not hate speech when Ward Churchill says it.


19 posted on 02/05/2005 6:52:01 AM PST by speed_addiction (Ninja's last words, "Hey guys. Watch me just flip out on that big dude over there!")
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To: mlc9852
Bingo! Black appointed by Clinton.

I'm shocked, I tell you.
Absolutely shocked!

20 posted on 02/05/2005 6:55:23 AM PST by yankeedame ("Oh, I can take it but I'd much rather dish it out.")
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