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.
Separation of church and state ??????????????
Disobey and ordiance, they are for the Incorportate town, not it’s people, Cannot turn right into a crime
let that sob go into a mosque and tell them that,i am so tired of oooo don’t touch the muslims…obama would be hysterical.
If your religious belief causes you to break the law and discriminate based on race, sex, sexual orientation, or disability…then they are breaking the law…its that simple.
They are free to discriminate in their church….they chose to operate a FOR PROFIT BUSINESS….this decision has since been overturned regardless.
What’s an “atheist church” exactly?!
Shucks, Paul and Silas and Peter went to jail ! LORD bless and take care of these pastors !!
Christians like to force their God on everyone. So we should have Christians under control. And tell them that they do not control everything and everyone. If they want control then we should tax all churches.
You do know that marriage predates christianity right?
Don’t Johnson… Your point?
Let’s turn them into sanctuary churches, that’s legal!