Christians Thrown Out: Baseball Execs Eject Biblical Message from Homosexual Event

Agape Press ^ | 8/18/03 | Jim Brown

[truthandlife]

Four Christians were recently kicked out of Veterans Stadium during the Philadelphia Phillies' "Gay Community Day."

Last Tuesday, Michael Marcavage and three friends brought a banner to the ballpark that read "Homosexuality is sin, Christ can set you free." He says their intention was to share that biblical message of hope with homosexuals who were at the stadium. [See Earlier Story]

Seven minutes after unfurling their banner from their centerfield seats, however, the group was approached by security. Marcavage says the four were told that they could not display their banner.

"They basically said that the [Phillies] executives said this banner must come down. And we questioned them, because there were other banners in the stadium as well," he says.

Marcavage says while their banner with its Christian message was prohibited, several other banners were permitted in the park that day, including an oversized rainbow flag waved by a homosexual man. Marcavage says he and his friends challenged the singling out of their group when others in the park were being allowed to display their messages without incident.

"We basically questioned them, asking if they could have their banners, why couldn't we have ours. They said 'Well, it's the content of the message,'" Marcavage explains.

He speculates that the Philadelphia team's corporate owners may have feared negative publicity. In any case, based on the Christian group's choice to display a message from the Word of God that might have convicted some members of the crowd, Phillies executives decided that neither the banner nor its bearers had any place in the park. Shortly after security ordered them to take down their banner, the four were escorted from the stadium.

Marcavage says although they were asked to leave the ballpark, they did have their money refunded and each received a free ticket to another Phillies game.

[truthandlife]

If you lived here in the United States 30 years ago would you ever imagine anything like this ever happening?

[ProtectorOfTwo]

lol

[gcruse]

I thought it was the gays who were pushing their agenda into the face of others. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Grut]

You try to rain on somebody else's parade, you get booted.

How do you feel about anti-hunting activists who make a nuisance of themselves on opening day? They're just trying to keep folks from sinning, too.

[L,TOWM]

Bookmark while I pop some popcorn...

[Eastbound]

"He speculates that the Philadelphia team's corporate owners may have feared negative publicity. "

Negative publicity? Heh heh. Watch out , Phillie. I hear the distant roar of a mighty 'whoosh' coming your way. Apply for your food stamps early and avoid the rush.

[sport]

I would have told him to stick the ticket up his ass, he could keep it. I did not want his money or his ticket[s].

But then again, I would not have spent my hard earned money on a baseball game ticket anyway.

[Ann Archy]

If it was gay day, doubt if too many of those left were Christians..:)

Gay Day at a BASEBALL GAME!! What a town that Philadelphia is....City of Brotherly Love is taken to heart there.....ick.

[RJCogburn]

they did have their money refunded and each received a free ticket to another Phillies game.

Well, the Lord does work in mysterious ways.

[Petronski]

Marcavage says although they were asked to leave the ballpark, they did have their money refunded and each received a free ticket to another Phillies game...on Bestiality Night at the Vet!

[gcruse]

...his wonders to per--- it's a line drive to center field!!! The fans are leaping to their feet! They're doing the Wave! They're doing the....ewwww!

[caisson71]

This is another reason for the decline of baseball in America. After being a youth coach for years, I don't even watch the TV games anymore much less pay the outrageous price of a ticket.

[nickcarraway]

At least they didn't throw them to lions as an after-game event. How long before that's a promotion?

[jsbankston]

If you lived here in the United States 30 years ago would you ever imagine anything like this ever happening?

Good point. I too don't think such a thing could have occurred in America in 1973. Back then we had property rights in America and the owner of a piece of property could toss someone off his land without incident. But today people seem to lack the understanding of private property and think they can do whatever they want on land they do not own.

[joesnuffy]

Ah yes the moral equivalency
Christianity -Hunting -Anti Hunting -and the promotion of Sodomy....
In "Veterans" stadium

[Spok]

Why th' heck would any Christian want to go anywhere billed as a 'Gay Community Day'? I'd just be sure they steam clean and disinfect everything when they're done.

[Jhoffa_]

IMO, the fact that they even have a "queer day" is shocking enough..

What's next? We gonna celebrate other types of deviant behaviors with a special day also?

"Yes, it's pedophile day here at Veterans Stadium and lookie here! It's Bob the umpire and his young friend. How's it going guy's? Hey! Wait a minute, you can't do that here.. Security! Security!"

[Belial]

This was a day to say to a small community: Hey, we recognize you exist, we wish to market to you, we don't discriminate against you.

A few wingnuts show up to piss on their parade and get asked to leave. Surprising? Nope...

If a bunch of gays trooped into your church waving banners that said "Jesus is an adolescent myth" wouldn't you expect them to be ushered out?

Don't you believe the owners of the stadium have the right to market to whoever they want?

Doesn't this all come down to the fact that gays were being given a modicum of respect?

[Belial]

"Yes, it's pedophile day here at Veterans Stadium and lookie here! It's Bob the umpire and his young friend. How's it going guy's? Hey! Wait a minute, you can't do that here.. Security! Security!"

I might explain the difference between two incongruent things to a child, who at least has a chance of learning and comprehension.

I won't bother taking the effort with a grown man, who seems to revel in his ignorance the way a hog rolls in mud.

[goodnesswins]

Uh...I don't know....are they going to have a "CHRISTIAN Community Day?"

[goodnesswins]

Uh...I don't know....are they going to have a "CHRISTIAN Community Day?"

[TheAngryClam]

Actually, the first Philadelphia (in Egypt) commemorated Ptolemy II Philadelphos, so named because he married his sister.

These guys, at least, weren't practicing incest.

[PAR35]

Are you suggesting that Veterans Staduim is private property?
http://www.phila.gov/recreation/history/index.html

[jsbankston]

Don't you believe the owners of the stadium have the right to market to whoever they want?

The team as well as Disney World sponsor Gay Days for one reason, gays are typically DINKS and not only have high income but a great deal of it is disposable.

[Belial]

Uh...I don't know....are they going to have a "CHRISTIAN Community Day?"

Dunno...ask the owner. It's between him and you. Lobby for it. If there's a market for it, it will happen.

[PAR35]

Don't you believe the owners of the stadium have the right to market to whoever they want?

Not when the owner is the government/taxpayers. Content based censorship by the government is frowned upon.

[Belial]

The team as well as Disney World sponsor Gay Days for one reason, gays are typically DINKS and not only have high income but a great deal of it is disposable.

How terrible! That sounds like capitalism. The owners should only market to groups approved by the Theocratic State Authority. That's the ticket.

[jsbankston]

The city owns the stadium but the team leases the Vet thereby granting the team property rights to the stadium.

[Jhoffa_]

If you would have bothered to read the post before knee jerking, it was addressing other deviants and special "days" to "honor" their behavior.

It could just as easily be Larry Flynt and "pet chicken" day.

[sinkspur]

Not when the owner is the government/taxpayers. Content based censorship by the government is frowned upon.

The Phillies are the lessee. Typically, lessees operate like owners for the time they occupy a piece of property.

Look at the baseball ticket. It states, I'm sure, "We reserve to the right to refuse admittance or to remove anyone at our discretion."

If these folks wanted to protest, they're free to protest OUTSIDE the stadium. Inside, they're at the mercy of the proprietors.

[Zeroisanumber]

I'd expect similar treatment if I unfurled a banner reading "All Hail the Great Lord Satan" at a Promise Keeper's event. The only thing that I find unusual about this article is that the banner holders were so suprised.

[Caipirabob]

So much for Baseball being a "Man's Game".

[jsbankston]

I really doubt the validity of this.

Actually, it would be difficult for a gay couple (DINK) to have children thus giving them much more disposable income than a married couple with children. Those with more disposable income and more time tend to spend more money on entertainment events such as the opera, ballet, concerts, gym memberships, fine dining and sporting events.

[Jhoffa_]

"Yes, it's crackhead day here at Veterans Stadium and, the pipe is out! WHOA! It's a long, long hit in center field.. and wait a minute! Wait a minute! Wait-a-minute..! The umpire has called a foul for Bogarting and it looks like there's going to be a timeout over damp rocks in the dugout.. "

[fortunecookie]

Next time, they'll just be thrown onto the field for some 7th inning stretch 'entertainment'. Harassment determined by the crowds. (Is that a violin I hear?...)

[fortunecookie]

Meanwhile...30,000 other Christians got to stay.

How many of those were 'so-called' Christians? We'll never know, but some are probably Christian like the new gay Episcopal bishop.

Message sent and received. Christians are tolerated (how generous) as long as they don't make any waves.

I'd be curious to see what kind of other homemade banners were displayed.

[Grut]

Ah yes the moral equivalency... Christianity -Hunting -Anti Hunting -and the promotion of Sodomy....

The 'moral equivalency' is between one group of horse's asses and another.

[F16Fighter]

LOL!

[sinkspur]

In fact, I'd like to see Freepers band together to start protesting the homos, similar to Rev. Fred Phelps. He pickets the homos funerals and parades with signs like "NO HOMOS IN HEAVEN" "GOD HATES FAGS" "AIDS CURES FAGS" these are in your face, but it's certainly better than sitting on the sidelines and letting these perverts destroy our values and culture.

Fred Phelps? You think picketing funerals with "God hates fags" signs is cool?

If you're a Fred Phelps Christian, you ain't much of one.

[jsbankston]

In fact, I'd like to see Freepers band together to start protesting the homos, similar to Rev. Fred Phelps. He pickets the homos funerals and parades with signs like "NO HOMOS IN HEAVEN" "GOD HATES FAGS" "AIDS CURES FAGS" these are in your face...

Interesting view you have there. However, I think most conservatives, Republicans and members of this forum would prefer that you left their names out when you hook up with Fred Phelps for a Klanesque protest.

[Rodney King]

Everytime I see a homo sticker on a car here in Dallas, it's usually on some clapped out old junker.

I would surmise the reason for that is that it's the teenagers and gays in their early 20's who put the bumper stickers on their cars.

[F16Fighter]

"Doesn't this all come down to the fact that gays were being given a modicum of respect?"

I see your point.

The Phillies could have even had giant phalluses positioned at the bases and home plate as the PA announcer asked the fans to:

"Stand and honor our 'special guests' as we salute those who 'salute' us."

(Sniffle) That would have been sooo special....

[Rodney King]

There is a big, BIG difference between preaching that homosexuality is a sin, and assuming that God hates fags. He hates the sin, there is no question about that.