Coeur d‘Alene, Idaho has created an ordinance that forces pastors to marry gays or go to jail and get fined.
This follows the legal battle in the same town with ministers Donald and Evelyn Knapp, who refused to marry a gay couple last year and now face a $1000 per day fine and up to 180 days in jail.
With this the government has decided that religious freedom is subservient to the sexual preference of others.
A federal judge recently ruled that the state’s ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional, while the city of Coeur d‘Alene has an ordinance that prevents discrimination based on sexual preference.
The Supreme Court’s recent refusal to take on gay rights’ appeals from five states has opened the doors for same-sex marriages to go forth.
The Knapps were just asked by a gay couple to perform their wedding ceremony, The Daily Caller reported.
“On Friday, a same-sex couple asked to be married by the Knapps, and the Knapps politely declined,” The Daily Signal reported. “The Knapps now face a 180-day jail term and a $1,000 fine for each day they decline to celebrate the same-sex wedding.”
The Alliance Defending Freedom has filed a suit in federal court to stop the city from enforcing the fine and jail sentence, saying in a statement from senior legal counsel Jeremy Tedesco that the government has overstepped its bounds, The Daily Caller reported.
“Many have denied that pastors would ever be forced to perform ceremonies that are completely at odds with their faith, but that’s what is happening here — and it’s happened this quickly,” Mr. Tedersco said, The Daily Caller reported.
But the city sees it differently. As far back as May, city officials were insisting that their ordinance is indeed in line with law.
“If you turn away a gay couple, refuse to provide services for them, then in theory you violated our code, and you’re looking at a potential misdemeanor citation,” said Coeur d‘Alene City Attorney Warren Wilson, to KXLY months ago.
Discrimination should never be aloud. You can’t violate someone’s rights and say “well, that’s my religious belief.” You Christians are hands down the most evil people on the face of the earth. We live in the US and US law overrides your bigotry at every turn! You have every right practice your religious cult, but when it infringes on someone else’s freedom, you should go to jail. Period.
Find a minister who wants to – there are many who will perform the ceremony lovingly – not right to ask someone to do something they are uncomfortable with –
Bs
Freedom of religion not freedom from religion. The Declaration of independence is the prism that we need to look at the Constitution from it explains that our rights do not come from this state but come from God.
Judges can marry Gays. There is no reason to force Pastors .
All those “Pastors” need to end any/all contracts with all levels of gov’t, including any licensing or 501c3 pprwk they’ve applied for/received. No contract, no jurisdiction.
All those “Pastors” need to end any/all contracts with all levels of gov’t, including any licensing or 501c3 pprwk they’ve applied for/received. No contract, no jurisdiction.
Next: Forcing Jews to eat Bacon.
I don’t necessarily agree with the gay lifestyle it is not our place to judge them