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.
what about our legal rights?
“October 21: The Coeur d’Alene Press reports that the city has received no formal complaints about same-sex couples being turned away from the Hitching Post. ”
Know why, idiots? Because no gay couple would want to have their wedding in what looks like a rejected Hee Haw film set.
http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2014/10/27/anatomy-right-wing-fabrication-no-threat-idaho-wedding-chapel
It’s equivalent to telling doctors to do abortions, even if they’re against the practice. Forcing people to violate their conscience is wrong. There are plenty of liberal churches and JP’s that can perform the ceremony. Who in the heck would want to have a pastor marry them, if that pastor is against what they’re doing?
I’d be in jail, with a smile.
Hello, lawsuit with payday!
Persecution plain and simple.
NEVER ! FIGHT THIS C**P ALL THE WAY !
So. Illegal. Can that judge
Jesus said we would be persecuted because we follow Him!!!
I da hoe GTFO , next they gonna tell u they control the weather , pay mo taxes!