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 $1,000 fine for each day they decline to celebrate the same-sex wedding.”
The Alliance Defending Freedom has filed a suit in federal court to stop the city from enforcing the fine and jail sentence, saying in a statement from senior legal counsel Jeremy Tedesco that the government has overstepped its bounds, The Daily Caller reported.
“Many have denied that pastors would ever be forced to perform ceremonies that are completely at odds with their faith, but that’s what is happening here — and it’s happened this quickly,” Mr. Tedersco said, The Daily Caller reported.
But the city sees it differently. As far back as May, city officials were insisting that their ordinance is indeed in line with law.
“If you turn away a gay couple, refuse to provide services for them, then in theory you violated our code, and you’re looking at a potential misdemeanor citation,” said Coeur d‘Alene City Attorney Warren Wilson, to KXLY months ago.
WOW:” DID I MIS SOMETHING? WHAT HAPPEND TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION AM I LIVING IN COMINEST COUNTRY? DID I MISS SOMETHING??????
Bull$#%&!@*.
So under the Obama administration there is no freedom of church to follow their beliefs unless it is the muslim church right?
There is no way they can force anyone e to perform a ceremony. If I wAnted to get married and the pastor that I asked decline ed, then I would search for another. There is always the Justice of the Peace at the court houses. Theses LGBT people need to get a life and stop trying to screw up everyone elses. If I want a cake baked by some bakery and they told me no, don’t you think k that there are dozens of other bakeries in the world…. grow up people and stop actingIke little children who are spoiled and aren’t getting g their way. “WHA-WHWHA-WA I’m gonna tell my mommy on you!”
No it’s an abomination
Next they will won’t polygamy marriage
well so much for idaho $#%&!@* that place
yet another great reason to not travel to,stay eat or purchase any service in this town!
The jails are going to be getting full.
How can this be? This is America, and never before have we been forced to do anything against our beliefs and our God.This is all wrong. God Help Us All.