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TESTING
THE FAITH Posted: December 16, 2004
Four Christian protesters
who demonstrated at a Philadelphia homosexual event face a possible 47 years in
prison if convicted of felony charges filed against them, while a prosecutor referred
to Scripture verses they read as "fighting words." The four are part of 11 demonstrators who went before the
Philadelphia Municipal Court in a preliminary hearing this week. Judge William
Austin Meehan Tuesday ordered four of the Christians to stand trial on three
felony and five misdemeanor charges. If convicted, they could a maximum of 47
years in prison The group was "preaching God's Word" to a crowd of
people attending the outdoor After a confrontation with a group called the Pink Angels,
described by protesters as "a militant mob of homosexuals," the 11
Christians were arrested and spent a night in jail. Eight charges were filed: criminal conspiracy, possession of
instruments of crime, reckless endangerment of another person, ethnic
intimidation, riot, failure to disperse, disorderly conduct and obstructing
highways. None of the Pink Angels was cited or arrested. A video of the arrest, provided by the American Family Association's Center for Law
& Policy can be seen here [Windows Media]. "First, symbols of Christianity are removed from the
public square; now, Christians are facing 47 years in prison because they
preached the gospel in the public square. Stalin would be proud," Brian
Fahling, A federal appeals court in Fahling's group says the Charges were dropped against the remaining seven Christians,
apparently because they were not seen quoting Scripture on the videotape. The ethnic intimidation charge stems from |
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