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Post by lifeandliberty on Oct 10, 2005 18:57:54 GMT -5
2005 Philadelphia Outfest Oct. 9, 2005 Update This years outreach at the Philadelphia Outfest went quite differently from last years event. We had a tremendous six-plus hours of ministry without interuption. The police worked with Repent America's Michael Marcavage to ensure that the outreach participants would be unmolested by some of the more hostile hearers. The preaching was powerful and thousands of the celebrants went home having heard the powerful message of salvation. Pray for those who stood around to hear the preaching, those who we had conversations with, and and those who were convicted by the large presence of Gospel messages on banners and in our literature. Lastly we ask for your prayers for our continued protection as we take the message of the Gospel to the streets and Campuses here in Philadelphia. We give thanks to the Father for his protection today. During the outreach at Outfest today, an enraged man went after a brother who was preaching. After shoving the preacher, the police intervened. It the ensuing scuffle, the man tried to gain possession of an Officer's hangun. The attempt was foiled when nearly a dozen Officers lept upon the man and hauled him off to jail. The Gospel, clearly presented, often enrages those who hate the message. Halleluyah for a great day of sowing the good news to a lost and dying world. www.lifeandlibertyministries.com
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Post by Messenger Micah on Oct 10, 2005 19:16:18 GMT -5
Thanks for the report and praise God the police allowed the preaching to go forth unhindered.
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Post by lifeandliberty on Oct 15, 2005 14:48:45 GMT -5
PHILADELPHIA -
The law firm of Shields & Hoppe, LLP has filed a lawsuit against the City of Philadelphia and others on behalf of the eleven members of Repent America, who were arrested as a result of their efforts to minister the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ at a homosexual event called "OutFest", which was held in the public streets of Philadelphia on October 10, 2004. The six men and five women were charged with three felonies, which included the "hate crime" of ethnic intimidation, along with conspiracy, incitement to riot, in addition to five misdemeanor charges. The Christians spent 21 hours in jail, faced up to 47 years in prison, and $90,000 in fines each.
"We believe this is the first case in the United States where someone was charged with a hate crime for ministering the Gospel in public," stated Ted Hoppe, attorney for the Philadelphia Eleven. "This case not only involves an effort to suppress the Christian viewpoint and to keep that viewpoint from being expressed in the public square, it also demonstrates a complete lack of regard by the City of Philadelphia for the basic right to free speech and free exercise of religion," Hoppe continued.
The criminal charges were ultimately dismissed after a hearing where a judge reviewed a videotape of the event and found that there was not one iota of evidence that Repent America had done anything wrong.
"Outfest" is an annual event held in Philadelphia. It is held within a fifteen block public area of the City and is funded, at least in part, with taxpayer funds totaling approximately $22,500, not including the logistic support such as police and clean up after the event. When Repent America arrived at the event, they were immediately surrounded by a militant mob of homosexuals called the "Pink Angels" so they could not move. The group held up large, pink styrofoam boards to block the group; they also blew whistles so that the Christians could not be heard.
At the preliminary hearing, Chief Inspector James Tiano, from the Philadelphia Police Department's Civil Affairs Unit, testified that police met with the "OutFest" organizers 3 or 4 times before the event and discussed, among other things, tactics to prevent Repent America from having access to the event. "Chief Inspector Tiano's comments seem to make it clear that the City conspired with the organizers of 'OutFest' to ensure that Repent America would not have access to the event to exercise their protected rights under both our state and federal Constitutions," Hoppe concluded.
"The City’s action at the Outfest event demonstrated a clear hostility toward Repent America and the content of their message," Hoppe stated. "Through this lawsuit, we hope to send a message to the City of Philadelphia, its police force, as well as Philly Pride Presents, that they do not have the right to interfere with Repent America's constitutionally protected rights to free speech and free exercise of religion simply because they do not agree with the content of their message," Hoppe concluded.
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Post by Jesse Morrell on Oct 16, 2005 1:03:30 GMT -5
praying for your lawsuit brother.
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Post by dmclayton on Oct 24, 2005 1:30:43 GMT -5
we are slowly moving towards a theocracy, and i think you all want it that way. do not the secular peoples deserve freedoms? why will you not leave us be? we leave you alone until you intervene with our affairs. should you continue to intervene with our freedoms, we will throw stones at you. yes, the persecution of christians will begin until every last one of you is dead. and then we will be happy. dussieclayton@comcast.net
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Post by Messenger Micah on Oct 24, 2005 3:04:13 GMT -5
You sound hateful and intolerant. Practice what you preach, lest you be a hypocrite!
By the way, we Christians are willing to die to keep you out of hell if that's what it takes. What are you willing to die for? Sexual promiscuity?
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