Much has been made in some places over the story of four people arrested for preaching Scripture during a Philadelphia gay pride event. The breathless headlines say the group faces 47 years in jail if convicted. While I think that this is a case of overzealous prosecution, I also think that we have some sensationalizing going on too.
Here is what we’re told. A group of people from a group called Repent America read the Bible aloud, through a bullhorn, during Philadelphia’s “Outfest” on October 10 and were arrested on charges of criminal conspiracy, ethnic intimidation, and riot as well as five misdemeanors. The lawyer for the four that remain charged say they could face up to 47 years in prison. Is that 47 years for each of them, or 47 years total for all four on all charges, nothing concurrent? I have a hunch it’s the latter.
Dear Dom,
Here are some articles I hunted down via the Exodus site that are related (Exodus is most comparable to Courage, but with an emphasis on change versus chastity for those with homosexual tendencies):
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=39505
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/10/132004a.asp
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/12/152004a.asp
http://www.afa.net/clp/ReleaseDetail.asp?id=78
http://www.afa.net/clp/ReleaseDetail.asp?id=78
I visited Repent America’s website (everyone, it seems, has a website these days) and was not particularly impressed. The word zealot definitely comes to mind. They don’t appear to be the “God hates fags” crowd, but they definitely think they know who resides in hell.
If you go to the Repent America website a small ticker starts counting. Above the number reads the following: “The vast majority of these people are not saved and will end up in Hell. Do you care?” It is the height of arrogance for anyone to claim they know who “will end up in Hell.” That is something only God knows.
I think there is a video of this floating around. They don’t deserve any time, but the politicians and police who hassled them should be out up against the wall. (not really)