Unprecedented abuse of power silences Christian message

Eleven Christians were arrested at a homosexual event called “Outfest” in Philadelphia last October and were charged with three felonies and five misdemeanors. Four of the eleven now face up to 47 years in prison because they, and not the others, were caught on camera evangelizing. “This case is about the unprecedented abuse of power that took place in Philadelphia — the Bible and evangelism criminalized as hate speech and four men facing prison because they dared to exercise rights guaranteed them under our Constitution,” said Fahling who is defending the Christians. “The city has attempted to silence a message it deems offensive by sending the messengers to jail. That’s frightening, that’s chilling, and every American ought to be outraged,” Fahling said. The Christians were singing, praying, and reading scriptures that city officials deemed as fighting words and hate speech. “The video footage shows my clients were peacefully evangelizing,” Fahling said. “There was absolutely no crime committed. They were bringing the message of Jesus Christ to a public event as they do at a wide venue of other events.”

Excerpted from American Family Association 5-Jan-05 article:

Unprecedented abuse of power silences Christian message