Freedom to Preach the Truth Threatened

Warning from Dr. Sheldon Smith | Editor, Sword of the Lord | April 2007

"Hate Crime" Legislation in the U. S. House of Representatives Poses Dangerous Threat to Christians

Imagine for a moment that your Pastor was sent to jail for making the following statement: "The Bible teaches that homosexuality is an abomination."

In the U. S. House of Representatives today is a bill that would lead us in that direction as a nation.

H. R. 1592 is a so-called "Hate Crimes" bill that begins to lay the legal framework for just such an atrocity.

Under the cloak of preventing hate-crimes this legislation will:

· Criminalize any speech that is critical of homosexuality or cross-dressing behaviors deeming it as "hate speech" by claiming that such speech "incites" violence against homosexuals and cross-dressers.

· Give homosexuals and cross-dressers status as a federally-protected minority. These behaviors will be considered equal to race under the federal law.

· Elevate alleged incidents of "hate" against a homosexual or cross-dresser into a federal crime.

· Fund anti-Christian curriculum for children K-12, through the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice to promote homosexuality and cross-dressing as normal behaviors.

· Be used as a tool to advance the homosexual agenda recognizing homosexual behavior as a civil right requiring government protection.

Because of the urgent nature of this issue and the almost unanimous opinion that it will have major impact upon churches and pastors in America please contact your representative in the US House of Representatives immediately urging them to vote against H. R. 1592. Our religious freedoms are at stake today!

Sincerely,

Dr. Shelton Smith

P. S. Find your Representative here: http://www.house.gov/writerep/

P. S. S. For help in writing your letter see our sample letter here: www.swordofthelord.com/hatecrimes.htm

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Follow Up on Status Of "Hate Crimes" Legislation

From Dr. Shelton Smith
Editor, Sword of the Lord | Murfreesboro, TN | May 2007

(1) The U. S. House of Representatives passed it 238-180.

(2) The U. S. Senate will now take it up. We do not yet know the day when they will vote, but as it stands right now they too will pass it. (We will lose). It is listed as S.1105 in the U. S. Senate. Introduced by Sen. Ted Kennedy it is now in the judiciary committee awaiting a vote. Go ahead and contact your two U. S. Senators too.

Click here to contact your senator.

(3) The White House has indicated that it is likely that the president will veto it. But we cannot assume he will. (He has only used the veto twice in over six years).

We need to let him hear from us!

White House Contact Information:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500

E-mail: president@whitehouse.gov

Comment Line: 202-456-1111

FEDERAL HATE CRIMES BILL: WARNING!

P.O. Box 30000, Philadelphia, PA 19103 | 1-800-3-REPENT

For Immediate Release 1/17/07

Contact: Michael Marcavage 1-800-3-REPENT, Ext. 5

REPENT AMERICA DENOUNCES
PROPOSED FEDERAL HATE CRIMES BILL

PHILADELPHIA – Repent America (RA) has joined in the fight against the newly proposed hate crimes bill now before the U.S. House of Representatives, and is calling Christians to pray for this emergency situation and to voice opposition to their elected officials.

Earlier this month, Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) introduced H.R. 254, which calls for the establishment of a new federal offense for so-called hate crimes. The bill is similar to hate crimes measures passed by the House in 2005 and the Senate in 2004, which would commission a separate federal criminal prosecution for state offenses tried under its provisions. If convicted, an offender could face life in prison.

“The proposed federal hate crimes bill is a dangerous threat to our civil liberties,” stated Repent America director Michael Marcavage. “Having been charged under Pennsylvania’s hate crimes law for declaring the truth about homosexuality, I can assure you that if this bill is passed and signed into law, it will be used to put Christians behind bars,” Marcavage continued.

In October of 2004, eleven Christians with RA were arrested while ministering the Gospel on the public streets of Philadelphia at a publicly-funded celebration of homosexuality called "OutFest". After spending 21 hours in jail, District Attorney Lynne Abraham’s office charged them under Pennsylvania’s hate crimes law called "Ethnic Intimidation," along with a host of other felony and misdemeanor charges. These charges were later dismissed; however, if the Christians had been convicted, they would have faced up to 47 years in prison and $90,000 in fines each.

“H.R. 254 is nothing more than an attempt to provide federal prosecutors with the ammunition to police our thoughts, which will ultimately lead to the death of the First Amendment,” Marcavage said. “This bill is unnecessary, unconstitutional, and simply un-American,” he continued. “Christians must pray and respond to this emergency situation by urging their representatives to vote against this dangerous bill,” Marcavage concluded.

RA is currently challenging the unconstitutional manner in which Pennsylvania’s hate crimes law was passed. This case is headed to trial later this year.

Most Recent Related Documents:

Marcavage, et. al. v. Rendell, et. al.
12.23.05 - Court Unanimously Rules Against Legislature In Pennsylvania Thought Crimes Case
12.12.05 - Repent America Applauds Senator Allen's Withdrawal Of Support For Federal Hate Bill

REPENT AMERICA - CALLING A NATION IN REBELLION TOWARD GOD TO REPENTANCE
Repent America is an evangelistic organization based in the birthplace of America, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Go to: REPENT AMERICA

END

Comment from webmaster of Jesus-is-Savior.com...

This is very serious folks--we are losing our freedoms! The average person doesn't even know what their rights are, and subsequently don't realize when those rights are being taken away. The apathy of the American people has empowered wicked people through The White House to usurp unconstitutional authority over our nation. Don't believe it? Recently HR6166 was passed which eliminated Habeas Corpus.

Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney has openly warned the American people that a criminal syndicate is now running our nation. Unbelievably, even as some our own government leaders are desperately trying to warn us of the forming police state, the average person (Christians included) laughs at such claims as 'conspiracy theories' and nonsense. Taxes Congressman Ron Paul has been warning the American people for years about the coming police state. When I tell this to people, they laugh at me and think I'm nuts. Yet their own government leaders are trying to warn them (even through the mainstream newsmedia!), but most people refuse to look into the truth of the matter.

People think it's a big joke until they're in court, spending $20,000 to defend themselves against Child Protection Services, because the government thinks they have a right to FORCE our children to take dangerous guinea-pig medications. People don't care until it's their 12-year old daughter with cancer being taken away by the government. People don't care until it's them being tasered by police in a hospital bed. People don't care until it hurts them or a loved one. Tragically, the average minister in America has nothing to worry about, because few preachers today speak out against the abominable evils of homosexuality.

Christians will soon face criminal prosecution and imprisonment for preaching publicly against the sin of homosexuality if the wicked get their way. Wake up Christians! Rise up against the evildoers (Psalm 94:16).

Police State USA!

HR6166 (Goodbye Habeas Corpus)

The Coming Police State (by Congressman Ron Paul)