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.
There is an exemption to the law the exemption is this:
“A. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, nothing in this chapter is intended to alter or abridge other rights, protections, or privileges secured under state and/or federal law. This chapter shall be construed and applied in a manner consistent with first amendment jurisprudence regarding the freedom of speech and exercise of religion.
“B. This chapter does not apply to:
1. Religious corporations, $#%&!@*ociations, educational ins$#%&!@*utions, or societies.
2. An expressive $#%&!@*ociation whose employment of a person protected by this chapter would significantly burden the $#%&!@*ociation’s rights of expressive $#%&!@*ociation under Boy Scouts Of America v. Dale, 530 U.S. 640 (2000).
3. The United States government, any of its departments or agencies, or any corporation wholly owned by it; or the state of Idaho or any of its departments, agencies, or political subdivisions, other than the city of Coeur d’Alene.
“C. This chapter shall not apply: 1) to the rental of a housing accommodation in a building which contains housing accommodations for not more than two (2) families living independently of each other, if the lessor or a member of his family resides in one of the housing accommodations, or 2) to the rental of a room or rooms in a single-family residential housing accommodation by an individual if he or a member of his family resides therein. (Ord. 3466, 2013)”
The city has effectively issued a written letter (which includes a legal statement/opinion), to Attorney David A. Cortman, stating the following (in part):
“Based on the facts presented to the city by your clients’ pleadings in the above referenced lawsuit and further review and $#%&!@*ysis of the city’s anti-discrimination ordinance (MC 9.56.010, et seq.) it is my opinion and the city’s position that as currently represented, the conduct by Hitching Post Weddings L.L.C. is exempt from the requirements of the ordinance and would not be subject to prosecution under the ordinance if a complaint was received by the city.” (emphasis added)
Thats B.S.!!
OPRESSION
Welcome to Obamaland
I could care less what the butt trolls and $#%&!@*s do or do not do… But… No clergyman should be forced to perform a ceremony for them, that goes against their faith… Period!
Why would any gay couple want to get married inside a church in the first place?
Why not have just a civil service and not one in a church, same result. And as Abraham says why would a gay couple want to get married inside a church.
Maybe they should look for a gay church! Can’t force a Pastor to violate his Christian faith. It’s an abomination! I would choose jail before joining two men in marriage in the presence of Yahweh! What happened to our Cons$#%&!@*utional rights? Let them get married before a judge. This is BULL!
close down the church and practice in secret ….more then one way to tell the federal govt to go fuk themselves
they are fishing for a lawsuit t get rich from