Posted on 11/27/2002 6:02:07 AM PST by apackof2
Pennsylvania Bill Could Silence Churches on Homosexuality
A bill that could make pastors open to lawsuits for teaching the biblical truth of homosexuality could soon become law.
House Bill 1493 has already passed the Pennsylvania state, and could pass the House as soon as Wednesday, November 27.
"If pastors from pulpits speak either of the supremacy of biblical traditional marriage or speak of sexually
alternative lifestyles in an unfavorable way, under this amendment they could be open to litigation," William Devlin, president of
the Pennsylvania-based Urban Family Council, told Cybercast News Service.
"Basically," he continued, "it's saying if you're sitting and you're hearing and you feel intimidated, you can sue."
The bill would include provisions for sexual and gender minorities—gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender,
transsexual, transvestite, polyamorous, pan-sexual, and transvestites.
The bill provides no exemptions for religious institutions or clergy, according to Devlin.
"It is difficult for me to fathom that such a bill could become law in Pennsylvania," said Dr. D. James Kennedy,
founder and president of the CENTER FOR RECLAIMING AMERICA.
"Please, take a moment to call Governor Mark Schweiker, at (717) 787-2500, and tell him to veto House Bill 1493."
§ 2710. ETHNIC INTIMIDATION.
(A) OFFENSE DEFINED.--A PERSON COMMITS THE OFFENSE OF ETHNIC INTIMIDATION IF, WITH MALICIOUS INTENTION TOWARD THE ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED RACE, COLOR, RELIGION [OR], NATIONAL ORIGIN, ANCESTRY, MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER OR IDENTITY OF ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS, HE COMMITS AN OFFENSE UNDER ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS ARTICLE OR UNDER CHAPTER 33 (RELATING TO ARSON, CRIMINAL MISCHIEF AND OTHER PROPERTY DESTRUCTION) EXCLUSIVE OF SECTION 3307 (RELATING TO INSTITUTIONAL VANDALISM) OR UNDER SECTION 3503 (RELATING TO CRIMINAL TRESPASS) OR UNDER SECTION 5504 (RELATING TO HARASSMENT BY COMMUNICATION OR ADDRESS) WITH RESPECT TO SUCH INDIVIDUAL OR HIS OR HER PROPERTY OR WITH RESPECT TO ONE OR MORE MEMBERS OF SUCH GROUP OR TO THEIR PROPERTY.
(B) GRADING.--AN OFFENSE UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE CLASSIFIED AS A MISDEMEANOR OF THE THIRD DEGREE IF THE OTHER OFFENSE IS CLASSIFIED AS A SUMMARY OFFENSE. OTHERWISE, AN OFFENSE UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE CLASSIFIED ONE DEGREE HIGHER IN THE CLASSIFICATION SPECIFIED IN SECTION 106 (RELATING TO CLASSES OF OFFENSES) THAN THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE OTHER OFFENSE.
(C) DEFINITION.--AS USED IN THIS SECTION "MALICIOUS INTENTION" MEANS THE INTENTION TO COMMIT ANY ACT, THE COMMISSION OF WHICH IS A NECESSARY ELEMENT OF ANY OFFENSE REFERRED TO IN SUBSECTION (A) MOTIVATED BY HATRED TOWARD THE ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED RACE, COLOR, RELIGION OR NATIONAL ORIGIN, ANCESTRY, MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER OR GENDER IDENTITY OF ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS.
Section 3 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Now, exactly WHERE in this bill is this provision contained:
"If pastors from pulpits speak either of the supremacy of biblical traditional marriage or speak of sexually alternative lifestyles in an unfavorable way, under this amendment they could be open to litigation," William Devlin, president of the Pennsylvania-based Urban Family Council, told Cybercast News Service.
I am getting really, really sick of folks misrepresenting legislation. I don't think that Hate Crimes bills are a good idea. But neither is exaggerating what is in a particular bill.
Constitution of the United States Articles in addition to, and amendment of, the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the legislatures of the several states, pursuant to the fifth article of the original Constitution.
Article I.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Article XIV.
Section 1.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
The quicker they try to shove this down our throats, the more projectile the reponse will be.
Bring it on and bring it on hard.
Basically, they're free to get up and march their sorry behinds out of the church. Nobody is forcing them at gun-point to attend any particular church.
The day they start arresting pastors and others for speeking Biblical truth will be the day I probably get arrested for the first time, because as soon as they haul our pastor away, I'll be in line with others to pick up where he left off. Hope they have lots of room at the jail (hey, if they arrest us all, we can just move the service to the jail! What are they gonna do...arrest us??).
Check Post #24. This bill has no such provisions.
Sounds like Islam to me, where a crime against a Moslem is considered more serious than a crime against a non-Moslem.
When those bad boys pick off America and bring it into Mohammad's tent, the legal basis for full sharia law will already be in place - and the first victims will be the guys who developed that legal basis.
Agreed, and I think it's a bad law. But it doesn't do what this article is claiming - put anyone preaching against homosexuality from the pulpit in jeopardy.
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