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On Wednesday the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania issued a short per curiam order, in which it agreed with the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania that the state legislature violated the Pennsylvania Constitution when it added "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to Pennsylvania's "ethnic intimidation" law. Eleven Christians of the evangelical group Repent America were arrested due to that same law in 2004 for reading the Bible and singing hymns at Outfest, a homosexual rally. Though the case was eventually dropped, Repent America filed legal action in 2005 against the act, citing its unconstitutional nature. The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania agreed last...

(AgapePress) - The head of a Philadelphia-based Christian ministry says his group was targeted by a "lawless mob" of homosexuals at the city's annual homosexual pride event -- and that city police refused to enforce state laws against harassment and disorderly conduct at that time. New video footage from Repent America shows homosexuals with the group "Anti-Racist Action" shouting profanities at RA director Michael Marcavage and even threatening him with physical violence in the presence of Philadelphia police officers. Members of the group also yelled "Christian fascists" at RA participants while ministering at the June 11 event. Marcavage suggests the...

Militant Mob of Homosexuals Targets Repent America Kerry got it wrong. There aren't 2 Americas. There are 3. The third America is that of strong, uncompromising men of principle, like Mark Marcavage, who believe in absolutes, a doctrine that is now threatened by our legal system. Fox News' O'Reilly, for example, calls himself a conservative and a Catholic. Yet he chides the MA diocese for not accepting homosexual adoption, at variance with 2 millenia of church doctrine, Biblical doctrine that millions of protestants and catholics accept today around the world. O'Reilly is blind to the fact that Biblical doctrine tallies...

A group of Christian protesters claims a "militant homosexual mob" threatened them with physical violence at Philadelphia's Gay Pride parade, a city-funded event that included simulated sex acts on some of the floats. Repent America, a local organization that saw four of its members acquitted of criminal charges after a similar confrontation last fall, says one float at the parade Sunday featured women, partially dressed in tight leather, bending over with their buttocks exposed and being spanked with hands, whips, and other objects. "It is absolutely astounding that this type of illegal behavior is being permitted by city officials and...

Michael Marcavage A Christian student who sued his college for trying to commit him to a mental hospital over his objections to a play depicting Jesus Christ as a homosexual has lost his battle in a Philadelphia courtroom. A jury ruled yesterday in favor of Temple University in connection with the complaint filed by Michael Marcavage, who now heads Repent America and who recently made headlines after being arrested and later cleared for preaching against homosexuality at a public event. The finding is being blasted by the American Family Association Center for Law & Policy, which handled the case....

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A judge dismissed all charges Thursday against four members of a conservative Christian group who were arrested last fall while picketing a street festival for gays. After watching video footage of the event, Common Pleas Judge Pamela Dembe said that while the protesters' message that homosexuality is a sin clearly enraged the crowd, the bullhorn-wielding demonstrators did not incite violence. "We are one of the very few countries that protect unpopular speech. And that means that Nazis can March in Skokie, Ill. ... That means that the Ku Klux Klan can march where they wish to," Dembe...

(CBN News) - It is a story that has the Christian community on the edge of its seat. In Philadelphia, 11 Christians were arrested and charged under Pennsylvania’s hate crimes law (the Ethnic Intimidation Act), for preaching the Gospel. The arrests took place at a homosexual event last October, and five of the 11 still face serious criminal charges. Twenty-five-year-old Michael Marcavage is at the center of a case that could determine whether preaching the Gospel is a hate crime; specifically, whether preaching against homosexuality is a hate crime. Marcavage, who has a ministry called Repent America, and 10 other...

During Philadelphia's annual homosexual "Outfest" rally, 11 Christians were herded into a police truck for refusing to obey a police order to relocate, and for using signs and megaphones to proclaim Scripture verses during the gay-pride celebration. The Christians are members of the evangelistic group Repent America. Repent America director Michael Marcavage, 25, is facing three felony charges and five misdemeanors. The felonies include conspiracy, inciting to riot, and ethnic intimidation-a charge filed under the state's hate-crimes law, which specifically mentions sexual orientation as one object of hate speech. Charges against seven of the Christians were dismissed. The others are...

PHILADELPHIA - Four members of a conservative Christian group may resume picketing gay-themed events in Philadelphia after a judge lifted a restriction that kept them away. Common Pleas Court Judge Pamela Dembe called the restriction an unreasonable restraint on free speech. "We cannot restrict people's right to speak or to be near those who might not wish to hear them into the future," Dembe said Friday. Dembe overturned a ruling by Municipal Court Judge William A. Meehan against the demonstrators, who are affiliated with a local group called Repent America and who say their opposition to homosexuality is based on...

The man who led 11 Christians in protesting a homosexual event in Philadelphia and is one of five criminally charged for his actions is now receiving hateful, vulgar messages via his website and voice-mail system. Michael Marcavage, the head of Repent America, received an obscenity-laced voice-mail message on Thursday in which the caller expresses his hope that the Christian activist will serve time in prison and be raped there. "Michael, I hope you enjoy your time in prison, you piece of s--t," the caller said. "You are a worthless piece of s--t." As WorldNetDaily reported, on Oct. 10, a group...

The man who led 11 Christians in protesting a homosexual event in Philadelphia and is one of five criminally charged for his actions is now receiving hateful, vulgar messages via his website and voice-mail system. Michael Marcavage, the head of Repent America, received an obscenity-laced voice-mail message on Thursday in which the caller expresses his hope that the Christian activist will serve time in prison and be raped there. "Michael, I hope you enjoy your time in prison, you piece of s--t," the caller said. "You are a worthless piece of s--t." As WorldNetDaily reported, on Oct. 10, a group...

PC IS A DIRTY acronym in my house. My negative views of political correctness are so strong that I recently wrote a book on the subject. So when I first heard reports that political correctness stopped Christians from assembling and preaching the gospel at a gay rally, I thought I knew on which side I would stand. Trouble is, I know the players. And politically correct they're not. I refer to the brouhaha over October's Philadelphia celebration of OutFest. Now, months later, because of a combination of criminal prosecutions, Internet kerosene and a segment on "The O'Reilly Factor," there's a...

SPECIAL REPORT [Intermediate Draft-- looking for input] In Philadelphia, once known as the City of Brotherly Love, eleven Christian protesters were arrested on October 10, 2004, when they paid a homosexual 'block party' a little visit, wielding bullhorns and Bibles, and singing Christian hymns. Leader of 'the Philadelphia Four', as the press is calling it, is Michael Marcavage, who spent a night in jail, along with 10 other protesters. Marcavage is actually leader of a group called Repent America. He is a Christian who may get as many as 47 years in prison for daring to preach to homosexuals, as...

TESTING THE FAITH Motion filed for Philadelphia protesters Christians evangelizing at homosexual event seek federal relief Posted: January 13, 20051:00 a.m. Eastern © 2005 WorldNetDaily.com One of the attorneys for the Christian protesters who are criminally charged for evangelizing at an outdoor homosexual event in Philadelphia has renewed an appeal in federal court, citing the Supreme Court statement "Speech cannot be ... punished or banned simply because it might offend a hostile mob." The filing by the American Family Association Center for Law and Policy seeks emergency relief in federal district court based on evidence from a December preliminary hearing. As WorldNetDaily...

On Friday, Michael Marcavage, director of Repent America, and his attorney, Scott Shields of Shields and Hoppe, who is the criminal defense attorney for the 'Philadelphia 5', will appear on Good Morning America to discuss the OutFest arrests and the blatant disregard for our civil liberties.

Prosecutors continue to press felony charges against 4 Christian men and one juvenile for their activities at Philadelphia’s OutFest in October. The group was organized by Repent America, a Philadelphia-based evangelism ministry. Robert Knight, director of CWA’s Culture & Family Institute, says the Department of Justice (DOJ) should intervene in this case, but there is troubling news from WorldNet Daily that such help may not be offered. Listen to audio Policy Analyst for CWA talk with Robert Knight Director of CWA's Culture & Family Institute about Philly 5(including teen)

Four Christians will stand trial for preaching the Gospel during and a “gay pride” event in Philadelphia. They could receive a sentence of up to 47 years in prison. Saturday, Dec. 18, 2004 Posted: 2:53:07PM EST On Tuesday, the Philadelphia federal appeals court denied an emergency appeal to halt prosecution of 11 Christians. While charges were dropped against 7 of the participants, four of the Christians are facing trial where they could receive up to 47 years in prison. On October 10, eleven Christians with Repent America were arrested during the annual “Outfest”, a gay pride event held in Philadelphia....

Michael Marcavage is the leader of Repent America, a Christian group based in the Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) area. Repent America is known for its activism on the behalf of traditional morality, especially with the pro-life and pro-traditional marriage causes. Mr. Marcavage has been in the news recently, ever since he and 10 other Christian activists were arrested on October 10, 2004, after protesting at a homosexual street fest in Philadelphia. They were charged with three (3) felonies and five (5) misdemeanors. Among the felony charges were Criminal Conspiracy, Ethnic Intimidation and Riot. 7 of the protesters had the charges against them...