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.
I’d stop doing marriages altogether, and refer people to churches outside the city limits…..or I’d move my church.
I’m not against gay marriage…I’m against tyranny.
They are trying to take our freedom of religion away
I feel that they should not be forced to do things against their beliefs. I am all for gay’s and their rights but I don’t feel anyone should be told they would be jailed if they didn’t do something against their belief. there are those that will marry them but you shouldn’t be able to jail them.
No
What happened to Church & State?
Maybe if they ALL ‘go to jail’, what will the politicians say then? Too Bad, Coeur d’Alene is such a pretty place.
Sorry, cities do not have that authority over churches. Most everyone knows it. Stop idiot postings.
The government is forcing us . Isn’t that like rape? I thought rape was against the law.
Do they also have to preform ceremonies for people who want to marry their pets or relatives? Read the Bible children
So now a city can tell you how you have to follow your faith. This is a dictatorship coming to your town soon.