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.
What happened to the right to refuse service to anyone?
Make them put you in jail. Stand up to anyone that thinks they can make you do anything you do not want to do
ILLEAGAL. A church should have the right to refuse any marriage, they wish.
When I got married, my wife and myself, had to first get grilled, by a priest, before the church would marry us.
This cant be new age Mormonism? Incredible!
FREEDOM OF RELIGION. GOVERNMENT HAS NO RIGHT TO INTERFERE WITH THE BELIEFS AND TRADITIONS OF ANY CHURCH.
That is deplorable. That is taking away our freedom of religion. God is watching this wicked behavior and he is going to reign down on these immoral deviates.
I would say that is a definite breach of the laws governing the desperation of Church and State !!! How can they expect a Pastor to do something that is against anything taught in the Bible ? The Pastors first responsibility is his Love for God which would over ride the State .
The church is finished. Just know Jesus personally
This is as bad as the terrorists that are destroying our country.
Say no you stand for Christ if you do this you are a hypocrite