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TESTING THE FAITH Judge drops all charges against Philly Christians Adults who evangelized at homosexual event vindicated, teen girl likely off hook tomorrow -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: February 17, 2005 12:33 p.m. Eastern © 2005 WorldNetDaily.com In what is being hailed as a victory for free speech, a judge in Philadelphia today dismissed all criminal charges against four Christians who were arrested for evangelizing at an outdoor homosexual event. Judge Pamela Dembe of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas dismissed the charges, saying that she found no basis whatsoever for any of them. "We are one of the very few countries...

(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...

The four adult defendants who are part of the "Philadelphia 5," Christians who have been criminally charged for preaching at a homosexual event last fall, won a court battle today when a judge removed the bail requirement that they stay at least 100 feet away from any homosexual gathering. "The judge dissolved the bail restriction," the defendants' attorney Scott Shields told WND. Court of Common Pleas Judge Pamela Dembe ruled the bail requirement was an "unusual restriction on a person's right to speech." "We're gratified with the ruling," Shields said. "This judge recognized that my clients definitely do have the...

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...

Christian Group Charged With Hate Crime Prosecutors Say Group Tried To Incite Riot At Gay Gathering PHILADELPHIA -- A group of activists have been hauled into court for an unusual reason -- they are charged with hate crimes because they protested at a gay and lesbian rally. Members of the Christian group Repent America face up to 47 years in prison for what the city of Philadelphia calls hate crimes. Four defendants are charged with ethnic intimidation and rioting -- among other things -- after preaching at a gay festival. In October 2004, Michael Marcavage and four other members of...

A documentary filmmaker who happened to be interviewing the leader of 11 Christian protesters on the day they were arrested at an outdoor homosexual event in Philadelphia says the extend of the charges against five of the people – which could lead to 47 years in prison – amounted to a "Christian Rodney King" scenario. As WorldNetDaily reported, on Oct. 10, the group was "preaching God's Word" to a crowd of people attending the Philadelphia 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...

Four Christian activists face arraignment tomorrow in Philadelphia on felony charges in what they describe as their "peaceful protest" of a homosexual rights event last fall.     The defendants, all members of an evangelical Christian group called Repent America, "exercised their First Amendment rights by preaching the Gospel, and they did it peacefully," said Brian Fahling, an attorney for the American Family Association, who is representing them.     Each has been charged with three felonies — criminal conspiracy, inciting to riot and ethnic intimidation — charges that Mr. Fahling called "the most profound abuse of power I've ever seen." The ethnic...

UPDATE: Homosexual Attorneys from Justice Department Advise Philadelphia Police On Arresting Christians One Internet news service says not to expect an investigation because of the involvement of the Justice Department homosexual attorneys A few days ago I wrote you about the situation in Philadelphia in which four Christians were arrested. They are charged with eight crimes, including three felonies: possession of instruments of crime (a bullhorn), ethnic intimidation (saying that homosexuality is a sin), and inciting a riot (reading from the Bible some passages relating to homosexuality) despite the fact that no riot occurred. They face a possible 47 years...

Homosexual attorneys from the U.S. Justice Department Civil Rights Division not only attended a large homosexual event in Philadelphia last year, but they advised police on the scene who arrested 11 Christian protesters, says a source within the agency. According to the Justice Department employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, a number of agency attorneys from Washington, D.C., attended the October "OutFest" event, and, he says, they therefore are not likely to take up the cause of the five criminally charged Christians who believe Philadelphia officials violated their civil rights. As WorldNetDaily reported, on Oct. 10, the group...

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)

"Hate Crime" charges against four Christian men, facing a total of 47 years in prison, were dropped after the judge viewed the tape of the incident. Four Christian men were charged with “hate crime” felony when in fact they were peacefully protesting a homosexual street event on October 10, 2004 in Philadelphia. Concerned Women for America (CWA) urged the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to intervene. The four adult defendants, who face a total of 47 years in prison if convicted of the three felonies and five misdemeanors, pled not guilty. “The District Attorney’s office went berserk, saddling them with...

What we have been saying has now happened. You cannot quote what the Bible has to say about homosexuality in public or you will be charged with a "hate crime." Philadelphia is only the beginning. If we fail to take a stand here, this "crime" will soon be applied across America. In the 27 years of this ministry, I have never witnessed a more outrageous miscarriage of justice than what is happening in Philadelphia. Four Christians are facing up to 47-years in prison and $90,000 in fines for preaching the Gospel on a public sidewalk, a right fully protected by...

Report Says Homosexual DOJ Lawyers Complicit in Arrest of Christians Philadelphia Family Advocate Blames Local Clergy, Politicians for Hostile Environment By Jim Brown and Jody Brown January 5, 2005 (AgapePress) - A Christian attorney is expressing deep concern over the latest development in a case involving a group of Christians who were arrested for preaching the gospel at a homosexual pride event in Philadelphia. Four Christians have been bound over for trial and face up to 47 years each in prison after preaching to a crowd of homosexuals at the pro-homosexual "Outfest" event in early October. Michael Marcavage, Mark Diener,...

Wednesday, January 5, 2005 TESTING THE FAITHU.S. attorneys complicit in arrest of Christians?Source says homosexual government lawyers advised Philadelphia police at 'OutFest' eventPosted: January 5, 20051:00 a.m. Eastern By Ron Strom © 2005 WorldNetDaily.com Homosexual attorneys from the U.S. Justice Department Civil Rights Division not only attended a large homosexual event in Philadelphia last year, but they advised police on the scene who arrested 11 Christian protesters, says a source within the agency. According to the Justice Department employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, a number of agency attorneys from Washington, D.C., attended the October "OutFest" event, and, he says,...

                      'Philly 4' Case Hits Prime Time with O'ReillyAttorney for Christians Calls Incident Clear Case of 'Anti-Christian Bigotry'By Ed Thomas and Jody Brown January 4, 2005(AgapePress) - The right of Christians to assemble and preach the gospel in public is under examination in Philadelphia. Four of the eleven Christians who preached at the "gay pride" event "Outfest" in early October -- all of whom were arrested -- are now facing prison time of up to 47 years. The "Philadelphia Four", as they have come to known, are facing felony charges -- and are accused...