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.