Idaho city’s ordinance tells pastors to marry gays or go to jail

[rangerrebew]

Idaho city’s ordinance tells pastors to marry gays or go to jail




 By Cheryl K. Chumley - The Washington Times - Monday, October 20, 2014

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, city officials have laid down the law to Christian pastors within their community, telling them bluntly via an ordinance that if they refuse to marry homosexuals, they will face jail time and fines.

The dictate comes on the heels of a legal battle with Donald and Evelyn Knapp, ordained ministers who own the Hitching Post wedding chapel in the city, but who oppose gay marriage, The Daily Caller reported.

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.


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http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/oct/20/idaho-citys-ordinance-tells-pastors-to-marry-gays-/

[GourmetDan]

 
The gaystapo marches on...

[aligncare]

Give 'em a crappy ceremony. All the ordinance says is that they must perform the ceremony. It doesn't say anything about it being beautifully conducted.  Just talk fast and mumble a lot. Three minutes, tops. They're outta there.

[GourmetDan]

Give 'em a crappy ceremony. All the ordinance says is that they must perform the ceremony. It doesn't say anything about it being beautifully conducted.  Just talk fast and mumble a lot. Three minutes, tops. They're outta there.

                               

[andy58-in-nh]

The gaystapo marches on...

Civil disobedience is the answer. Refuse. Join hands. Start the cameras rolling. And let the thugs come while you pray for them.

Let's see if America has enough moral conscience left to deserve its survival.

[raml]

They would then be condoning a practice that is not of their faith that is considered an abomination not just a sin and freedom of religion would be ignored again. Freedom of Religion should be the law of the land since it is in our constitution.

[ABX]

I just hope some gay conservative or libertarian tries to make a point and the first 'church' they go to is a mosque.

In reality, it may be high time all faiths stop asking the State to bless their sacraments.  Untie religious weddings from state marriage contracts. A church wedding is between the parties, the Church, and God. If they want legal recognition as well, they go to a JP.  Tying a religious sacrament to a secular government will always result in the church losing rights of their faith.

[alicewonders]

I just hope some gay conservative or libertarian tries to make a point and the first 'church' they go to is a mosque.

In reality, it may be high time all faiths stop asking the State to bless their sacraments.  Untie religious weddings from state marriage contracts. A church wedding is between the parties, the Church, and God. If they want legal recognition as well, they go to a JP.  Tying a religious sacrament to a secular government will always result in the church losing rights of their faith.

I wish churches would untie themselves from the "tax exempt trap" too.  If a church feels constrained in what they can preach because it means they will take in less money.......then it's almost like the proverbial deal with the Devil.

[ABX]

I wish churches would untie themselves from the "tax exempt trap" too.  If a church feels constrained in what they can preach because it means they will take in less money.......then it's almost like the proverbial deal with the Devil.

It will also take a lot of power away from the shysters like Creflo Dollar who use the guise of a church to be their own personal piggy bank.

[kevindavis007]

It will also take a lot of power away from the shysters like Creflo Dollar who use the guise of a church to be their own personal piggy bank.

Scientology would go away real fast...

[alicewonders]

It will also take a lot of power away from the shysters like Creflo Dollar who use the guise of a church to be their own personal piggy bank.

 

[sinkspur]

I wish churches would untie themselves from the "tax exempt trap" too.  If a church feels constrained in what they can preach because it means they will take in less money.......then it's almost like the proverbial deal with the Devil.

If they do that, then lots of little non-denominational and rural churches will close. A church will become a business, and those who can't pay the taxes AND pay the bills will have to shut down.

[sinkspur]

It will also take a lot of power away from the shysters like Creflo Dollar who use the guise of a church to be their own personal piggy bank.

No it won't. The gullible will just pony up more cuz Creflo tells 'em to.

Who this will hurt are small churches, rural churches who simply can't afford to operate AND pay federal taxes. I can see lots of small Catholic churches closing down if tax exemption is revoked.

[Bigun]

Idaho city’s ordinance tells pastors to marry gays or go to jail

If I were a pastor in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho right now there would be a VERY big lawsuit filed in federal court ASAP!

[Oceander]

I just hope some gay conservative or libertarian tries to make a point and the first 'church' they go to is a mosque.

In reality, it may be high time all faiths stop asking the State to bless their sacraments.  Untie religious weddings from state marriage contracts. A church wedding is between the parties, the Church, and God. If they want legal recognition as well, they go to a JP.  Tying a religious sacrament to a secular government will always result in the church losing rights of their faith.

Agreed.