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.
That’s what a good father would do he’s not going to just be sweet talk to him government are really easy with the sex music too easy
When a so called religion integrates a set of laws into their system, it becomes an ideology, in my opinion. Sharia is antithetical to American law. We must maintain sovereignty in America.
Wrong for somebody to do something they don’t want to do it’s like that gay couple that put that couple that Bakery out of business the judge was wrong they have a right to say no
No Islam is Not A Religion, It Is A Political Ideology, roughly 1400 years old……..As supposedly told to the so called Prophet Mohamed, It has nothing to do with us and Should be outlawed all Muslims sent back to the countries form which they came…..You either are or are not Muslim there is no moderation of ones beliefs allowed…….Muslims have been fighting amongst themselves for Thousands of years going back pre Roman times……and they have found new alliances such as the Un and O”Bumma, to name two!
Just say you will do the ceremony but your fee is$25000.00
The ordinance effectively is the state not being separate. Separation of church and state. The government cannot tell a religion how to practice it’s religious activities. Thank God Trump is the next POTUS and will appoint judges who uphold the constitution.
There are plenty of places gays can go to get married.
The city will lose and lose hard
Separation of state and church. Aren’t there enough ppl that want to help gays wed that you got to FORCE someone to perform the wedding? What kind of start to a marriage is this? Marriages that won’t last.
Song or saying: If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything…. If these Pastors don’t stand united it will only get worst.. Just think what they will be asking you do next….Fight this James Allen is totally correct in the 1st Amendment.
Idaho City, what you are doing is wrong!!!!
This is b******t, if a pastor or other religious fellow refuses to perform a marriage service for a gay couple all the gay couple has to do is go in front of the fucking judge and have the judge do it !! I judge or justice of the peace will do it, why force somebody to do it against their beliefs !!! The way I see it if you want to be gay be fucking gay who gives a rats$#%&!@*don’t force your fucking beliefs and values on someone else !! Don’t like a gun don’t buy one don’t like to eat pizza don’t fucking eat pizza !! Just don’t force your$#%&!@*on someone else have enough fucking common decency to go elsewhere !! If you own a bakery or a restaurant and you don’t want to serve gays, that should be in your right you’re going to lose money but that is your right !! I liken this to economic rape, being forced to do something against your will !!