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 $1,000 fine for each day they decline to celebrate the same-sex wedding.”
The Alliance Defending Freedom has filed a suit in federal court to stop the city from enforcing the fine and jail sentence, saying in a statement from senior legal counsel Jeremy Tedesco that the government has overstepped its bounds, The Daily Caller reported.
“Many have denied that pastors would ever be forced to perform ceremonies that are completely at odds with their faith, but that’s what is happening here — and it’s happened this quickly,” Mr. Tedersco said, The Daily Caller reported.
But the city sees it differently. As far back as May, city officials were insisting that their ordinance is indeed in line with law.
“If you turn away a gay couple, refuse to provide services for them, then in theory you violated our code, and you’re looking at a potential misdemeanor citation,” said Coeur d‘Alene City Attorney Warren Wilson, to KXLY months ago.
This is uncons$#%&!@*utional!!
Refusing to do something is not criminal
Well Alfred, sorry to have to tell you this, but refusing to do as the law says is criminal! I feel sorry for the people in this town, the godless Gestapo has arrived. if I were a preacher in that town I would just go down to the local jail and turn myself in immediately. When they ask me why I’m there I would tell them that I am rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar’s. You claim that I am a criminal because I refused to do something that goes against my beliefs, against everything that I stand for and you tell me it is punishable by law. I am a criminal Here I am. if you could get at least five percent of the population there to do so, it would be a news worthy the eye opener
Whatever happened to freedom of choice
They would rather goto jail. I guess we don’t have the right to say no anymore in america.
No thanks…I’ll do what God said and let him deal with the others.
This is criminal, uncons$#%&!@*utional and just plain stupid!
Wrong…wrong…wrong!
God, help us!
This totally violates the 1st Amendment! Therefore, it cannot be a law.