.Hate Crimes Laws & You AND Your Pastor’s Free Speech Rights

Hate Crimes Laws, You Free Speech Rights, AND Your Pastor’s Free Speech Rights . . . that’s the subject of this Big B File.

In the Big B File from August 8th, 2006, entitled Your Pastor’s Free Speech Rights, I mentioned the assault on the free speech rights of your priest, minister, and rabbi to simply preach what the bible (or Torah for Jews) says about the issue of the day without the threat their church or synagogue’s tax exempt status being revoked and/or threatened with jail time or worse. Last November, the Democrats were swept back into control of Congress by running as conservatives.
Now, three of the Far Left Secular Progressives, Representative John Conyers of Michigan and Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (also one of the most animated and controversial members of Congress) have introduced two bills in congress. House Resolution (H. R.) 254 called the ‘David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007' and H. R. 1592 entitled the `Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007'. Senate Bill (S. B.) 1105 is the same as H. R. 1592, but with a different title and was introduced by Sen Ted Kennedy. These three bills are the most brazen assault on not only the free speech rights of your priest, minister, and rabbi, but ALL Christians everywhere!
The supporters of the bills all say that there are protections built into the bills to protect the free speech rights of all Christians. Oh Really?!? Here is what one member of a group of Ministers who held a press conference on May 16, 2007 said about this bill:

       "Pro-abortion advocates would say keep your hand off my reproductive organs," Bishop Harry Jackson of the High Impact Leadership Coalition said. "Pro-gays shout stay out of our bedrooms. Christian ministers can rightfully say stay out of our pulpit."
"The Hate Crimes Act will be the first step to criminalize our rights as Christians to believe that some behaviors are sinful," said Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson. "Pastors preaching from Scripture on homosexuality could be threatened with persecution and prosecution."

Christians Rally against Hate Crime Bill & Hate Crimes Bill May Threaten Free Speech
CBN News

      I recently compared H. R. 254, H. R. 1592, AND S. B. 1105 to Public Act 47/2001 from Victoria Province, Australia. This was the same act that was used to put two pastors in jail and charged with a hate crime for offending Muslims. What did they say that was so offensive to Muslims that it constituted a hate crime (a sample is below)?

Pastor Scot was referring to ‘many verses’ in Sura 9 (e.g., 9:81, 9:90, 9:94-95), as well as to Sura 48:16-17 and Sura 8:12-16. His point was that, according to the Qur’an, turning back from jihad leads to hell.

Sura 8:15-16: ‘O ye who believe! When ye meet those who disbelieve in battle, turn not your backs to them. Whoso on that day turneth his back to them, unless manoeuvring for battle or intent to join a company, he truly hath incurred wrath from Allah, and his habitation will be hell, a hapless journey’s-end

This statement did not incite hatred against, serious contempt for, or revulsion or severe ridicule of a person or class of persons. Thus, it was not religious vilification.

- courtesy of Light the Fire Minisries

     That’s Right . . . they quoted from the Qur’an itself, the official holy book for ALL Muslims. What the pastors were doing was quoting verses from the Qur’an and the bible to illustrate the differences between . . . or make comparisons to . . . the Christianity and Islam. That is it . . . a simple comparison between Christianity and Islam . . . where does that end up offending Muslims in any way?
Of course, Jesus said that we would be persecuted because of him . . . that is to be expected as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Many of you may be asking "How am I being persecuted here in the USA . . . land of the free and home of the brave?" Well, this is the latest example of Christian persecution by the far left s-p’s trying to silence us. I’ll go more into detail on the persecution of Christians in the USA in the next Big B file.
If you think that what I have said earlier about what had happened to the two Australian Pastors (Protestant) couldn’t or wouldn’t happen here . . . think again and ask the eleven Christians who were arrested, charged, and threatened with up to 47 years in prison.
On June 21, 2001, Pennsylvania Lawmakers passed a law just like the one that recently passed the U.S. House that placed homosexuals in a "protected" class that would increase the criminal penalties for committing a crime against a homosexual based on a perceived bias. This also applies to others such as certain ethnic groups and other religions that are not Christian, etc. . . . primarily on the left.
In the case of the Philadelphia 11, they were arrested and charged with felony hate crimes for doing the "extremely terrible and offensive" thing of . . . preaching, according to the bible, that homosexuality is a sin. That’s it . . . simply stating and quoting from the bible that homosexuality is sinful. As the Philadelphia 11 and one of the members stated:

"Despite the fact that our behavior was above reproach and we were attacked by a mob of whistle-blowing, obscenity-screaming God haters, the Christians, and only the Christians, were charged." ...

- Philadelphia 11's group's statement

      "This is one of the most remarkable and unlawful actions by police that I have ever witnessed," said Michael Marcavage, director of Repent America. "Their blatant disregard of the law by allowing hecklers to impede our way, block our message and then arrest us, is inexcusable, especially by police officers who are specially trained to protect civil rights.
"Christians are now being labeled as 'haters' and any speech that homosexuals perceive to be intimidating, such as our Christian witness at OutFest, makes them a prime target for 'hate crimes legislation.'"

- Mr. Michael Marcavage
Repent America Dir. & one of the Philadelphia 11

     The Muslim community in Australia used the Australian Version of SB 1105 (HB 1592) to have the two pastors arrested and charged with hate crimes for "insulting Islam" by quoting the Qur’an itself!
The Bills being run through Congress is the latest attempt by Ted Kennedy, Dick Durbin, John Conyers, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, and other far left S-Ps who want to do everything they can do to take the first amendment protections of those who oppose their agenda and world view.
The Big B Files urges in the strong opposition to the Hate Crimes Bills going through Congress . . . Senate Bill 1105 and House Bills 254 & 1592 . . . in as strong of opposition as what you showed Congress recently when we defeated the Immigration Reform Bills a.k.a. the Shamnesty Bills. The Big B Files Urges this very strong opposition because the first amendment rights of all Christians . . . especially priests & ministers’ first amendment rights and freedom to preach whatever he or she chooses to are at stake like it never has been before. The Jews & their Rabbis could very well have the same thing happen to them if ANY of these bills become law.   By the way, the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution states the following (in it’s entirety)

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

- First amendment to the U.S. Constitution

       And that is the Big B Files. Click on the "Comments" Link below and tell me what you think . . .I’m Bryan Hewing.