Posted on 12/17/2004 1:07:57 AM PST by katiedidit1
TESTING THE FAITH Prosecutor: Bible is *fighting words* 4 who protested at Philly homosexual event ordered to stand trial, face 47 years in prison
Four Christian protesters who demonstrated at a Philadelphia homosexual event face a possible 47 years in prison if convicted of felony charges filed against them, while a prosecutor referred to Scripture verses they read as "fighting words."
The four are part of 11 demonstrators who went before the Philadelphia Municipal Court in a preliminary hearing this week. Judge William Austin Meehan Tuesday ordered four of the Christians to stand trial on three felony and five misdemeanor charges. If convicted, they could a maximum of 47 years in prison.
As WorldNetDaily reported, on Oct. 10, the group was "preaching God*s Word" to a crowd of people attending the outdoor 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 11 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. A video of the arrest, provided by the American Family Association*s Center for Law & Policy can be seen here [Windows Media].
"First, symbols of Christianity are removed from the public square; now, Christians are facing 47 years in prison because they preached the gospel in the public square. Stalin would be proud," Brian Fahling, AFA Center for Law and Policy senior trial attorney, said in a statement.
A federal appeals court in Philadelphia denied emergency relief earlier this week despite video footage Fahling calls "undisputed evidence" that shows the Christians cooperating with police and being harassed by the Pink Angels.
Fahling*s group says the Philadelphia city prosecutor in the case, Charles Ehrlich, attacked the defendants as "hateful" and referred to preaching the Bible as "fighting words," a characterization, the law group says, with which Judge Meehan agreed.
Charges were dropped against the remaining seven Christians, apparently because they were not seen quoting Scripture on the videotape.
The ethnic intimidation charge stems from Pennsylvania*s "hate crimes" law – to which the newest "victim" category of "sexual orientation" was recently added.
Scary, thought crimes are next.
Looks like it might really be a hate crime. Hate , towards Christians.
Where's the ACLU? The commies are bringing on the fight. Let's get ready to rumble!
This is a job for the ACLJ's Jay Sekulow.
There seems to be a "conflict of interest" in regards to freedom of speech these days.
Thank God I dont live in Philly.
Oh. My. Goodness. Sign me up.
Absolutely incredible!!! Not Denmark, not Canada, not Sweden, not France, not Belgium or some other "enlighteded" hellhole, but right here in the US of A.
The RED STATE people need to really get on the stick and keep rolling back this moral rot from the Blue State people.
Just to clarify my thinking...Am I to understand that homosexuality is now an ethnicity in Pennsylvania? When did they slip that "little" piece of legislation past the general public?
If you are hinting at violence you are in the wrong forum
These and other "thought-crime" laws have been sold to "law and order" conservatives in PA for a long time, who never bother to read the fine print. This amendment clearly violates the state constitution, much as our gun control laws do; but that doesn't stop these power hungry mutts. The amendment was signed into law on December 3, 2002, by then Governor Mark Schweiker, A REPUBLICAN.
thanks to bill and hillalry.... the defenders of the 2% .this is how they divide our country and build up hate.chip...chip... chip... away with each little law suit and confrontation they gain another notch up the power ladder. I guess it is going to be left up to FREEPERS and us BLOGGERS to get out of our pajamas and demonstrate against any and all affronts to our culture....
I was just wondering, do people who testify in this court swear an oath on the bible?
It sounds like the prophecy in the Bible which talks about Christians being prosecuted is becoming a reality.
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