Posted on 02/10/2005 10:38:58 AM PST by tang-soo
Prophecy - Signs
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Jack Kinsella - Omega Letter Editor
Last October, a group of eleven Christians attended a pro-homosexual rally called the 'Outfest' where they displayed banners with biblical messages, sang hymns and preached from the Bible.
Not long after the group began their activity, members of the Pink Angels, which the statement describes as "a militant mob of homosexuals," confronted the protesters and attempted to drown out their message with whistles, while hiding the signs with large sheets of pink Styrofoam.
After the confrontation, the Christians were arrested and taken to jail. None of the homosexuals at the 'Outfest' were charged or arrested.
In all, eight charges were filed against the Christians: criminal conspiracy, possession of instruments of crime, reckless endangerment of another person, ethnic intimidation, riot, failure to disperse, disorderly conduct and obstructing highways.
The “ethnic intimidation” charge was made possible by Pennsylvania’s Ethnic Intimidation and Institutional Vandalism Act – that state's “hate crimes" law – to which the newest "victim" category of "sexual orientation" was recently appended.
The Christian group issued a statement in which they complained, "Despite the fact that our behavior was above reproach and we were attacked by a mob of whistle-blowing, obscenity-screaming God haters, the Christians, and only the Christians, were charged."
The entire incident was videotaped. It clearly showed the defendants cooperating with police as well as documenting the harassment activities of the Pink Angels.
Philadelphia's prosecutor argued before the court that the defendants were "hateful" and referred to preaching the Bible as "fighting words." The judge in the case agreed and ordered them bound for trial.
Four of the Christians arrested were ordered to stand trial on three felony and five misdemeanor charges. If convicted, they could each get a maximum of 47 years in prison. One female teenage protester faces charges in the juvenile justice system.
Charges were dropped against six of the 11 Christians, apparently because they were not seen quoting Scripture on the videotape, since, in this case, quoting the Bible is what constitutes the 'corpus delecti' (body of the crime).
It has since been revealed that homosexual attorneys from the U.S. Justice Department Civil Rights Division were among the 'celebrants' at 'Outfest'. They allegedly 'advised' the police to arrest the Christians and helped them formulate the charges.
Consequently, appeals from the Christian group to the Department of Justice, claiming that their civil rights were violated fell on deaf ears.
What makes this even more egregious is the fact that an article printed in the Philadelphia Gay News, published BEFORE the 'Outfest' festival, announced -- in advance -- that the organizers intended to block Christians from access to the event.
Chuck Volz, senior adviser to Philly Pride Presents, told the publication the Pink Angels security force would carry large signs alongside the Christians to surround them and block their access to OutFest participants.
But Volz also admitted the Christians had a 1st Amendment right to attend, just as they did.
"Given the parameters of the First Amendment, there's no way to keep them out," he said. "I think the gay community should understand that the gay-rights movement has succeeded because people are permitted free speech under the First Amendment. We can't be in a position of denying people the right to compete with us in the marketplace of ideas." Unless, of course, they are Christians.
It is hard to argue against the evidence. I'm not referring to the evidence provided by the videotape that proves the Christians were cooperative with police and non-violent in their demonstration. Evidently, THAT evidence is extremely easy to argue against.
The evidence I am referring to is the evidence that being a Christian in America is ALREADY a crime. We are talking about the United States -- not Russia, Vietnam or Saudi Arabia, here.
What I find fascinating is that, in the days of the Apostles, it was also a crime to accept Jesus, and the charges then were the same as the charges now.
In the days of the Roman Emperors, Christians were charged with what were the equivalent to 'hate crimes' for preaching Jesus as the only way to heaven.
That is the same argument the Bible says will find wide acceptance during the Tribulation Period when the antichrist launches a world-wide effort aimed at exterminating Christians and Jews.
Here's the fascinating part.
Those who claim Christians practice hate speech by claiming Jesus as the only way to heaven don't believe in Jesus anyway.
They don't believe they are accountable to Jesus, and don't believe that accepting Jesus will win them entry into a heaven that they don't believe in either.
So, the Philadelphia Christians are charged with preaching the 'alleged' words of a Person their opponents dispute ever existed, because He said (without ever existing, remember) that, without accepting the 'mythical' Jesus they won't get to go to a place that they say is a myth in the first place!
And THAT activity is so damaging a 'crime' (in America -- and on THIS side of the Tribulation Period), that it merits a potential of 47 years in prison.
It is a vivid foreshadowing of the time that Jesus described as "great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." (Matthew 24:21)
"So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation SHALL NOT PASS, till ALL these things be fulfilled." (Matthew 24:33-34)
Excerpted from the Omega Letter Christian Intelligence
Digest, Volume 41, Issue 4
Signs of times? To me it smells of big time staged up set up by organized cells intent on corroborating false evidences within government, accross state and federal lines of conivence.
They are not going to stilt gold with this and raise a lot of spirit and moneys. THese floozy loozies are going to hell anyways.
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It has since been revealed that homosexual attorneys from the U.S. Justice Department Civil Rights Division were among the 'celebrants' at 'Outfest'. They allegedly 'advised' the police to arrest the Christians and helped them formulate the charges.
Consequently, appeals from the Christian group to the Department of Justice, claiming that their civil rights were violated fell on deaf ears.
What makes this even more egregious is the fact that an article printed in the Philadelphia Gay News, published BEFORE the 'Outfest' festival, announced -- in advance -- that the organizers intended to block Christians from access to the event.
"Charges were dropped against six of the 11 Christians, apparently because they were not seen quoting Scripture on the videotape, since, in this case, quoting the Bible is what constitutes the 'corpus delecti' (body of the crime)."
So now it's a crime to quote the Bible in the presence of homosexuals.
These people are ’re not up for 47 years and weren’t just “preaching” but raided the stage of a permitted demonstration. They were trying to interfere with the gay’s right to speak more than speak themselves. Whoever wrote this is misrepresenting it. Real Christians don’t “bear false witness”.
If the situation were turned around, I’d expect you to all support Act Up’s arrest for “preaching” with bullhorns at the inauguration parade and refusing the police orders to return to their counter protest area. That’s exactly the same as this case
Demonstrations and emotional counter demonstrators are kept apart for a reason . The author is helping these phony Bush hating “Christians” is playing good people here for suckers. I’ve spent time working to convince people of that here, but I’m not going to waste more time rearguing this case. Regards.
It's time to stop being shocked by these things and start taking action. What can we do to stop this? To whom do we need to write? On whom do we need to put pressure? The best and fastest route is to get this before members of Congress and raise up such a hue and cry that they are forced to put pressure on the Justice Department. I am writing my Senators and my Representative with a copy of this. I suggest y'all do the same.
Many demonstrators at events such as Dem/Rep Conventions are often arrested and charged with such MISDEMEANORS as disturbing the peace, ect. These Christians are charged with a FELONY: a Hate Crime. A new law that says if special victims groups are harrassed it is a felony with long prison terms as punishment. Funny, though, Christians aren't listed on the protected list of victims.
This does not necessarily follow. Just about every religion has a "heaven." They may not accept the validity of Jesus' teachings, but it does not follow they do not accept the existence of a heaven.
And many aren’t. If they’d promise not to do it again, charges would probably be dropped. But these guys are virtual professional protestors probably hoping to be arrested and now playing the media for all it’s worth. Don’t get fooled.
You missed my point about misdemeanor vs hate crime felony. It is usually liberals who are the professional protestors, though. Whatever happened to, "I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it?" We have a first amendment that gives us the right to free speech. There is no amendment giving anyone the right not to be offended.
You missed my point about misdemeanor vs hate crime felony. It is usually liberals who are the professional protestors, though. Whatever happened to, "I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it?" We have a first amendment that gives us the right to free speech. There is no amendment giving anyone the right not to be offended.
Drat! Hit post button twice again.
the media and the enemies of Christians are out to portray and plant in people's minds that Christianity is a religion of hate. Just last night, on television the inane Wife Swap portrayed a Christian woman as a lesbian hating gayaphobe, while the lesbian was portrayed as Saint Lesbo, and that was followed by a segment on the local news about clergy abuse and the mention of pedophilac priests. It's an insidious and purposeful attack, don't kid yourselves
Were not all charges against the four demosntrators intially indicted dropped?
I missed nothing. Please read the links in my first post, especially the one labeled “Kept apart for a reason”. They address all your confusions.
Have you viewed the video? I didn't see any stage being raided. I believe these folks had permission to be there as well; in any event they were on a public street and have 1st amendment protection as well.
Further, their crimes aren't from using a bullhorn, otherwise they would simply be charged with disturbing the peace. Those who were citing scripture were held for trial, and those who were not had the charges dismissed. That should frighten everyone, even an atheist.
>>It's an insidious and purposeful attack, don't kid yourselves<<
agreed
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