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 $1,000 fine for each day they decline to celebrate the same-sex wedding.”
The Alliance Defending Freedom has filed a suit in federal court to stop the city from enforcing the fine and jail sentence, saying in a statement from senior legal counsel Jeremy Tedesco that the government has overstepped its bounds, The Daily Caller reported.
“Many have denied that pastors would ever be forced to perform ceremonies that are completely at odds with their faith, but that’s what is happening here — and it’s happened this quickly,” Mr. Tedersco said, The Daily Caller reported.
But the city sees it differently. As far back as May, city officials were insisting that their ordinance is indeed in line with law.
“If you turn away a gay couple, refuse to provide services for them, then in theory you violated our code, and you’re looking at a potential misdemeanor citation,” said Coeur d‘Alene City Attorney Warren Wilson, to KXLY months ago.
god says in the end this type of stuff will happen,stick to your beleifs
Not a good sign! This is the second state to impose jail time on a Pastor, the other state is Vermont. Are Americans no longer able to believe what they wish, unless they are Muslim or Muslim refugees? We are no longer a Christian nation!
Anne, I think it’s evils way of creeping in…our whole society has taken God and traditional values out of everything. In Vermont, a Pastor was sentenced to a year in jail for refusing to go against his beliefs and marry a gay couple. It’s not a good sign for America.
I’d rather not marry or make a cake for gays than to violate my beliefs and go to Hell. God is still alive and on his throne. Glory!
Uncons$#%&!@*utional, period! Stand your ground
lock me up
Communism !
That’ s de$#%&!@*able. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and because He angered a so called “emperor” by saying He is the Son of God, so I believe that pastor can take being locked up for a year for sticking to his belief in Christ.
Coeur d’ Alene of all places how could you ask pastors to do this.. ? Im guessing the overwhelming majority of the people disagree with this c**p.. Go to jail fk dat..
This is totally wrong and I would say you will not take me alive