Christians Coming Out of the Closet Sunday Despite Threats of Violence

Repent America Website ^ | 10/6/05

[Antoninus]

PHILADELPHIA - On Sunday, October 9, Repent America (RA) will be coming out of the closet to minister the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ and to take a stand against the public celebration of sin at "OutFest 2005," an annual homosexual celebration in the public streets of Philadelphia, despite threats of violence by a militant group of homosexuals. This will be the first year that the Christians with RA will return after being arrested, jailed for 21 hours, and charged with a hate crime for evangelizing at last year's festival.

At the event last year, six men and five women with Repent America were approached by a militant group of homosexuals calling themselves the "Pink Angels", which was formed by homosexual attorney and senior adviser to Philly Pride Presents, Inc. (organizers of "OutFest"), Chuck Volz. Philly Pride Presents organize "OutFest" each year, receiving $22,500 from the City of Philadelphia for such events. Upon arrival, the "Pink Angels" blocked access to RA by forming a human chain, refusing to allow the Christians to walk down the public sidewalk. Police intervention only occurred after a elderly woman was attempting to get to her home in the area.

While on the public sidewalk and street inside the event, RA began to open-air preach with the use of Scripture banners, and to distribute Gospel literature, as members of the "Pink Angels" blew loud whistles and carried large signs alongside the Christians to block their message and their access to the event attendees, while others screamed obscenities. The police refused to take action as the Christians were continuously followed, obstructed, and harassed.

Repent America obeyed all laws, and even the unlawful requests, to move by the Philadelphia Civil Affairs police officers in an effort of cooperation. Regardless of Repent America’s compliance, Chief James Tiano, head of the Civil Affairs Unit, without warning, ordered the arrests of the Christians and hauled them off to jail, where they spent 21 hours, before being released the following day. The Christians were then individually charged with three felonies, and five misdemeanors and faced up to 47 years in prison and $90,000 in fines each. The charges were later dismissed by Common Pleas Court judge Pamela Dembe.

This year a group identifying themselves as "Anti-Racist Action" posted a press release on their website, stating that they would "stop Repent America from disrupting the National Coming Out Day Block Party by any means necessary!"

"We believe that this is not an empty threat of potential violence since members of Anti-Racist Action previously attacked those in our ministry and destroyed our property," Repent America director Michael Marcavage stated. "The Philadelphia police must not allow, as they did at last year's 'OutFest', others to violate the law through interference and harassment during our evangelistic street meetings," Marcavage continued.

"We are certainly thankful that we once again have an opportunity to share the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ with those in attendance, in that, there is freedom from homosexuality," Marcavage stated. "This year we will have an ex-homosexual with us to testify how he was set free from the bondage of sin through the power of the blood of Jesus Christ," Marcavage concluded.

[Antoninus]

You may not agree with their message or their tactics (I do, btw). But you've got to admire their 16 lb. brass bowling balls.

[Antoninus]

Threats of violence against Christian protesters bump!

[lovecraft]

I say God Bless them and keep up the good work...

[clee1]

Gird your loins, Christian soldiers! Don't forget to pack heat.

[Tim Long]

Who wants to bet we'll see some "God hates fags" signs?

[Antoninus]

I say God Bless them and keep up the good work...

Me too. They've got an ex-gay coming with them this year to testify. That's like showing the cross to Dracula. Let's pray there's no violence.

[Antoninus]

Who wants to bet we'll see some "God hates fags" signs?

These guys have nothing to do with Al Gore supporter Fred Phelps and his band of loonies. They are the real deal. Conversion to Christ through a message of love and repentence.

[Skooz]

Only if the loony-toon Fred Phelps shows up.

Otherwise, no.

[dead]

Why not just let the homos have a parade, and go enjoy a nice picnic somewhere else?

The Christians have about as much chance of converting one of the pooftas to their side as the pooftas have of same.

But it's their right, so I hope nobody gets hurt. Keep your head low, but not too low!

[mlc9852]

And get a good lawyer.

[lovecraft]

Let's pray there's no violence.

And let's hope the homos don't decide to ..turn the other cheek

ahem...:-)

[clee1]

If you bring a DVR with you and catch the fruits threatening you, you won't need the lawyer.

[wallcrawlr]

Youre kidding right?

Apply that logic to everything else:
Why not just let the pinko's have a nice parade?
Why not let the sheehan have a nice parade?

Do Freepers have a chance at converting any one of those loonies?

[L98Fiero]

"You may not agree with their message or their tactics (I do, btw). But you've got to admire their 16 lb. brass bowling balls."

I'm not sure it will do any good (other than expose the violence of homos) but I always like to see folks confront evil when they can.

[wallcrawlr]

Thanks for that clarity.

Its good to know this group is different.

Phelps is an idiot (mild language being used)

[NameItClaimIt]

"You may not agree with their message or their tactics"

Who cares what the Osteen/Warren/Walmart/Miers bashing cowards spout-off while hiding behind keyboards!!

We're out in HUGH numbers and we win--that's it!

[dead]

Why not just let the pinko's have a nice parade? Why not let the sheehan have a nice parade?

What's the counter message?

With the communists, it's a stand against the totalitarianism of government.

With Sheehan, it's a stand against her disparaging of our troops.

What's the point of a counterprotest of a gay parade? You can't be gay?

They're here. They're queer. Ignore them.

[Antoninus]

Why not just let the homos have a parade, and go enjoy a nice picnic somewhere else?

It's fine if it's not in your back yard. As it is, these individuals take over several city blocks in the heart of down-town Philadelphia and are "in-your-face" beyond belief.

I applaud "Repent America" for representing the rest of us who are too buzy/scared/intimidated/clueless to oppose this public display of abominble behavior.

[Skooz]

What's the point of a counterprotest of a gay parade? You can't be gay?

The message is that God can deliver them from their perversion.

[sasafras]

I love how these homo's call themselves "anti-racist" but then go out and commit crimes, intimidate and use prejudice against these courageous and bold Christians.

[TXBubba]

They're here. They're queer. And they want your sons.

[Antoninus]

We're out in HUGH numbers and we win--that's it!

Huh? No comprende usted.

[TigersEye]

When does Philadelphia have its annual Block Party for Pedophiles? Or the National Coming Out Day for Date Rapers? Is there a block party for people who chain their kids in closets and one for people who keep pets in small cages? How about a Rolling Out Block Party for people who proudly stuff their faces until they're over 300 lbs?

[Antoninus]

They're here. They're queer. Ignore them.

Hard to do that when they're in my church molesting boys, in our schools teaching kids that having "two daddies" is just peachy. On TV. On radio. In movies.

I wish I could ignore them, I really do.

[ExcursionGuy84]

Man...this is like the 1st-Century Church being persecuted for The Ministering of The Gospel....

...makes Me wish with all my heart....that I was there...or that maybe in the future..I can.

[Antoninus]

When does Philadelphia have its annual Block Party for Pedophiles? Or the National Coming Out Day for Date Rapers? Is there a block party for people who chain their kids in closets and one for people who keep pets in small cages? How about a Rolling Out Block Party for people who proudly stuff their faces until they're over 300 lbs?

It's only a matter of time, I'm afraid.

Remember, the Irish can't have a St. Patty's day parade without a homo group. But if you're Christians and you try to protest at a gay event, you may get thrown in jail. Does that make any sense at all?

[dead]

Hard to do that when they're in my church molesting boys, in our schools teaching kids that having "two daddies" is just peachy. On TV. On radio. In movies. I wish I could ignore them, I really do.

I'll oppose them on all those things, obviously.

I just don't see the point of protesting their right to peacefully assemble.

I'd rather just spend the afternoon where they're not. But others are free to mingle with them, if they so choose.

[BenLurkin]

I left's concept of "free speech" has always been to shout down those with whom they disagree.

[NameItClaimIt]

"Huh? No comprende usted"

You haven't read the back of the Book? It's called The Revelation, and says my team wins.

[NameItClaimIt]

"Huh? No comprende usted"

You haven't read the back of the Book? It's called The Revelation, and says my team wins.

[wallcrawlr]

I dont mean to create a whole "thing" with this but let me just follow up with your "ignore them" comment and tell you I wish I could.

If you notice the lib gays do have an agenda for this nation. It happens to run a little different then my view of it.

[BenLurkin]

How many times have we turned the other cheek?

[TigersEye]

There has to be a pp puffer and a rug muncher in every other group but only homos in the homo group!?.

It sounds a little unbalanced to me.

[Antoninus]

You haven't read the back of the Book? It's called The Revelation, and says my team wins.

I'm on that team, bro...

[dead]

Remember, the Irish can't have a St. Patty's day parade without a homo group.

Exactly. I opposed the gays shoehorning their way into the St. Patty's Day parade for the same reasons.

People should be able to freely associate with like-minded law abiding people. The gays can have their parade and the Irish Christians can have their parade, and if everybody who disagrees with their message stays away, everybody can have a nice time on their parade day.

[dead]

I oppose their agenda as well.

I just don't oppose their right to gather freely, provided they obey the local laws (like don't march down the street naked.)

If they don't, they should be arrested. I know they rarely are, but in a perfect world they would be.

I just think protesting a gay parade will just give them the confrontations they absolutely love more than boas and tiaras.

Many disagree with me though.

[Disambiguator]

Your tagline is missing the "oh, my!"

[Albion Wilde]

Ping!

[Ashamed Canadian]

That's like showing the cross to Dracula.

LOL!!

[wallcrawlr]

alright thanks for that.

[Antoninus]

pong.

[TheDon]

I was going to suggest that a video camera, or two, is mandatory.

[Maeve]

I think this is awesome.

[Albion Wilde]

Why not just let the homos have a parade, and go enjoy a nice picnic somewhere else? The Christians have about as much chance of converting one of the pooftas to their side as the pooftas have of same.

Trouble is, the City Council, using taxpayer funds, decided to declare Philadelphia a gay destination. It is one of the oldest cities in the US and very dense in the center, where the gay festival is held. If you AND YOUR CHILDREN live anywhere at all in the center of town, which is among the most residential city centers among large US cities, you will have the stage-makeup-wearing male ballerinas with chest hair in tutus, the halfway-there-transsexuals with both sets of organs, the waxed-naked-except-for-piercings-and-thongs-boys, the alfresco fornicators and the diesel dykes all over the streets of your neighborhood. And many of them will have their children with them!

If you don't have relatives in the suburbs with which to take shelter, you simply can't avoid guys in high heels with a dog chain attached to both nipples by piercings being pulled down the street by a seven-foot tall dominatrix. Get the picture?

[stevio]

God bless them!

[Free Baptist]

I am reading this and watching the event for how the sodomites will very gladly deny Christians the Constitutional rights that they demand (and they demand rights that the Constitution doesn't affirm).

In the Philippines (The RoP is supposed to have a constitution modeled upon ours...that's really a joke! But Iraq will be worse!) four of us were criminally charged with the crime (really on the books!) "Offending the Religious Feelings..."

We were across a boulevard from the venue of an event held by an eccentric religious cult. We were not in their venue. We held Scripture signs and spoke to anyone who desired to have conversations with us (no amplification of our voices). We didn't preach. Members of that cult came near the street but remained on the other side for two hours and tried to challenge us to debate their leader (we didn't respond), and took photos and videos.

After dark, some 40 members of that cult left their venue and crossed the boulevard to us, and body-blocked us. That is they pressed against us in such a way (40 against 4) that we could not move. They yelled in our ears and told us to leave, then they prevented our departure deliberately. Another man affiliated with us was able to get the police chief to intervene. We requested safe escort into the police station, which the chief provided.

The Police Chief stated from his bench and in his official capacity that he and his officers had been observing us and had not seen any violations of law. But the cult was able to get a prosecutor to file CRIMINAL charges against us..."Offending [their] Religious Feelings." (Article 133, Philippines Criminal Code). Article 133 had not been used since 1951.

We are still defending ourselves in this case. We are free on bond. Maximum sentence if convicted would be 4 years, six months in prison, although the Philippines Department of Justice informs us that we would likely be given probation. The Philippines DOJ actually takes our position, and they regret that their prosecutor ever got this before a judge, but now that it is before the judge, they can't interfere, and have to let it run its course.

I see the same tactics practiced by these sodomites in Philadelphia. They are not interested in anyone except themselves having any "right" to anything. They have minds that are totally reprobated.

[Sun Soldier]

"I just think protesting a gay parade will just give them the confrontations they absolutely love more than boas and tiaras."

I couldn't agree more. But, you have to admit that some Christians love a good confrontation too, especially when they stand a chance of saving even one soul. They'll be there and will probably get arrested again. I think the cops should pay more attention to the public lewdness and make arrests where appropriate.

[Albion Wilde]

Click here to read threads on the history of this situation, and how unconstitutionally the Christians were treated not only in the People's Republic of Philadephia, but by the Feds. Thank God a judge with principles finally set them free.

[tumblindice]

And this time He's coming back fully-growed and really P.O'd.

I don't think a lot of people understand that it's going to be hammer-time then.