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.
It’s not about getting married. It’s about the joy of breaking a Christian to violate their faith. and the delight of getting the courts to do it for them. The greater the pain the greater their satisfaction. In order to offend GOD
What ever happened to the separation of state and church?
I agree with you Wilton. You could not have put it any better than when you said jail was better than hell.
simply said, they cannot order this.. Fire the city counsel for their treason.
I support the pastors. So much for freedom of religion.
As I said before they need to change this sign. This is not an All American City.
Why can’t the $#%&!@*sexuals find a pastor who is willing to marry them or even create a gay church so they don’t have to infringe on the majorities rights? I am so SICK AND TIRED of the sniveling gays, liberals, and politically correct morons that are DESTROYING our country! Go back to hell where you crawled out of and stop…..just stop!
o boy does generational sin have strong routes with some people..
That’s what they wanted – a CIVIL ceremony from a chapel that – at the time- offered civil ceremonies. Learn before you speak out of turn and look stupid.
Good point – why the fu@k is the government performing a religious ritual?