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 $1,000 fine for each day they decline to celebrate the same-sex wedding.”
The Alliance Defending Freedom has filed a suit in federal court to stop the city from enforcing the fine and jail sentence, saying in a statement from senior legal counsel Jeremy Tedesco that the government has overstepped its bounds, The Daily Caller reported.
“Many have denied that pastors would ever be forced to perform ceremonies that are completely at odds with their faith, but that’s what is happening here — and it’s happened this quickly,” Mr. Tedersco said, The Daily Caller reported.
But the city sees it differently. As far back as May, city officials were insisting that their ordinance is indeed in line with law.
“If you turn away a gay couple, refuse to provide services for them, then in theory you violated our code, and you’re looking at a potential misdemeanor citation,” said Coeur d‘Alene City Attorney Warren Wilson, to KXLY months ago.
UN cons$#%&!@*utional!
Snopes says that the city never said it would force them to marry same sex couples.
we are witnessing the fall of america…its by design.do not doubt me..
They work for a HIGHER Authority. So, good luck with that. Or will you pick up the islamic habit if you(generally speaking) don’t comply, you die.
that’s just sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Churches need to stick together and fight for our religious freedoms.
Uncons$#%&!@*utional. religion is protected by the Cons$#%&!@*ution, not marriage. Anyway you look at it this is wrong. How blessed do these idiot gays think a shot gun wedding, this time the preacher, will be? Made in hell. Now we know it is only about control.
tell this city to shove it…..
How about putting the ones responsible for that mess in jail for suggesting such a thing! Depriving people of their rights and religious freedoms! Which is treason… it goes against the cons$#%&!@*ution.
Shame on there souls, an shame in there mouths.