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.
Giving up freedom little by little hurt a everyone even the ones pushing the agenda, when Muslims take over they kill $#%&!@*sexuals, restrain all women and many other restraints by government, they give nice things first then take it all for personal vain, Americans need to awake, true freedom did not come free, your military fought for it.
They can’t do that unless they work for ISIS-who are those criminals-this amounts to religious persecution.You need a great lawyer to stop the evil ones.
Do not do it-conflict of interest to your religion.
well its started God help us all
Gay marriages is not a national or state issue.It is an issue for each person and should not be pushed on anyone.It is a choice as is any couple should decide themselves
If i was a pastor i would DC rather go to jail.
I would like to know how morality became a political issue. Next you will be able to marry a goat and have sex with it because you can’t control what the heart wants
Idaho city, BACK OFF.
L E A V E that city! “When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” Matt. 10:23
Bring your belongings, businesses, and money with you! That is a way of bringing justice to an ungodly city that refuses to accept A Christian’s Journey values and morality.