[apackof2]

Pray and Action bump

[section9]

First Amendment bump!

Remember, this, not the Patriot Act, is how fascism begins.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[randita]

Freedom of religion. This will never fly.

[ladtx]

If this becomes law then I see no reason why adultery shouldn't be added, or for that matter murder.

[apackof2]

Calling Pennsylvania Freepers

[17th Miss Regt]

This is clearly and unambiguously unconstitutional. If it stands, the next step could be to outlaw the teaching of a three-in-one God in Christian churches. Or perhaps outlawing the teaching of the Ten commandments because someone doesn't want to hear condemnations of, say, adultery or covetousness.

[beachn4fun]

Hmm, is this a classic example of what is meant by the "separation of church & State?"

I suggest that if this bill passes that the LEADERS of the Christian community take this to court for violating their constitutional rights for Freedom of Religion!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[twyn1]

I'm not surprised -- Bill Devlin speaks at our church (near Philly) quite often -- this is a test-case which could lead to the destruction of non-PC churches (First Amendment and separation of church and state be damned)

[ActionNewsBill]

"Basically," he continued, "it's saying if you're sitting and you're hearing and you feel intimidated, you can sue."

If they don't like hearing the truth, let them find a watered-down church where they will feel welcome.

The bill would include provisions for sexual and gender minorities—gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, transvestite, polyamorous, pan-sexual, and transvestites.

Well that just about covers every perversion.

The bill provides no exemptions for religious institutions or clergy, according to Devlin.

So much for freedom of religion. I am amazed and shocked that this is happening in America.

[maeng]

So, freedom for homosexuals and deviants take precedence over "freedom of religion". If perverted persons do not want to hear the truth, then stay out of these churches.

[biblewonk]

This bill hasn't got a change. Even in our decadent society it hasn't got a chance.

[Desdemona]

ping

[dirtboy]

OK, here's the text of HR 1493 as it is currently before the PA House:

§ 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.

[No Truce With Kings]

Amendments to the Constitution

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.

[LTCJ]

Bring it on. The Red Zone is on the verge of a mass vomitting of this PC-think. If the Dems think they took a beating in November, they haven't seen anything yet.

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.

[Pablo64]

"Basically," he continued, "it's saying if you're sitting and you're hearing and you feel intimidated, you can sue."

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??).

[RckyRaCoCo]

This doesn't sound like the PA. my coal mining Father grew up in.

[Guillermo]

And this is where America and the rest of the West is heading.

Next time a Lefty says "we must examine the reasons why Muslims hate us" point to THIS.

[Polycarp]

I just called the Gov to ask him to veto this bill:

Please call Governor Mark Schweiker at (717) 787-2500 or (800) 932-0784 urging him to veto hate crimes bill HB1493 which passed PA House



e-Alert!
from the Pennsylvania Family Institute
November 27, 2002

1240 N. Mountain Rd., Harrisburg, PA 17112 phone (717) 545-0600; fax (717) 545-8107
Web site: www.pafamily.org

HATE CRIMES BILL PASSES PA. HOUSE
GOES TO GOVERNOR FOR SIGNATURE OR VETO ! FAMILIES SHOULD URGE THE GOVERNOR TO VETO HB 1493 !

After a 90-minute debate, HB 1493, which adds "sexual orientation," "gender" and "gender" identity to Pennsylvania's "ethnic intimidation" statute, passed the House by a vote of 118-79.

Having already passed the State Senate last year, the measure now goes to Governor Mark Schweiker. He can either sign it, making it law in Pennsylvania, or veto it, which will kill the legislation.

Gay and Lesbian organizations hailed the vote, noting that for the first time in Pennsylvania law, gays and lesbians (and other forms of sexual behavior) have special recognition and protection. It is clear that this will not be the end of their legislative efforts.

PLEASE CALL GOVERNOR MARK SCHWEIKER AT (717) 787-2500 OR (800) 932-0784, AND URGE HIM TO VETO HOUSE BILL 1493, THE "HATE CRIMES AMENDMENT."

Reasons Why HB 1493 Should Be Vetoed:

* Although well intentioned, "hate-crime" laws are seriously flawed. They pave the way for unequal treatment under the law as well as the un-American concept of "thought crime," in which someone's actions are "more" illegal based on their thoughts or beliefs.
* A grandmother walking down the street should have at least as much protection under the law as a homosexual who is leaving a "gay" bar. But under this "hate crimes" laws that include "sexual orientation," the same crime would be punished with greater penalties if the victim were a homosexual.
* There is no evidence that victims of "hate crimes" are receiving any less attention than victims of other crimes. To suggest otherwise insults the men and women of the nation's law enforcement community.

We deplore any act of violence against innocent victims (including homosexuals), but we strongly oppose as unjust and dangerous HB 1493.

So-called "hate crimes" laws:

* Violate the concept of equal protection under the law by designating special classes of victims, who get a higher level of government protection than others victimized by similar crimes.
* Politicize criminal law, leading to pressure on police and prosecutors to devote more of their limited resources to some cases, at the expense of other crime victims' cases.
* Have a chilling effect on free speech by making unpopular ideas a basis for harsher treatment in criminal proceedings. Over half of the so-called "hate crimes" in the last U.S. Justice Department report were categorized as "intimidation" or "simple assault," which do not necessarily involve anything more than words.
* Confuse law enforcers, because the definition of what constitutes a "hate crime" is clear in some instances but unclear in others. This burdens prosecutors and opens up endless opportunities for defense attorneys to invoke technicalities.
* Are not necessary. There is no evidence to substantiate the claim that "hate crime" victims are receiving less justice than other crime victims.

For state legislator contact information, go to:
http://www2.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/findyourlegislator/find.cfm

or visit http://www.pafamily.org/and click on the "Find Your Legislator" link
or ask us at the PA Family Institute at 1-800-FAMILY-1.

[eastsider]

"Basically," he continued, "it's saying if you're sitting and you're hearing and you feel intimidated, you can sue." ... The bill provides no exemptions for religious institutions or clergy, according to Devlin.

It will never pass Constitutional muster. Bring it on.

[Antoninus]

Unfortunately, by electing homophile Eddy Rendell, this bill is as good as signed if it ever gets to him. What's more, he'll enforce it to the hilt. He was the guy, as mayor of Philadephia, who had the whole city boycott the state of Colorado for daring to pass a pro-family, anti-extra-rights for homos referendum.

Pennsylvania's headed down the crapper it seems.... sigh.