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.
Guess they never heard of separation of church and state. Oh unless it suits their needs.
will they tell rabbis, monks, Mulsim clerics to do this also? If being gay is not a choice we have to think there are gay Jews and buddhist. ….and Iknow for a fact muslims have gays. I knew some personally living in Jakarta. This is again an attack on Christianity.
I would dam sure go to jail Marriage is between one and one man
Go to hell! show me someone big enough power enough to make me bow to the $#%&!@* agenda.
Leave the pastors alone. What on earth has happened to freedom?
IDIOTS!!! MARRIAGE IS A CIVIL CEREMONY AND DOES NOT REQUIRE A CHURCH OR MIN ISTER. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO BE MARRIED IN A CHURCH THAT DID NOT WANT THEM?
They should do gay marriages but while performing them, they should annul them in their minds and takes with their God. Thereby making them civil ceremonies and not sanctioned marriages other than on paper.
Come and get me Coeur d’Alene judges f****** demonstrate to me your power and I’ll show you my middle finger.
I’m with Robert. What a sick society we have. Being forced is insane.
You cannot force someone to violate their religious beliefs. Nor can you force anyone to work. Take it to the Supreme Court where they will smack this down.