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Wednesday May 24, 2006
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Freedom of Speech Rights for Christian Pastors Confronting Gay Pride Upheld in Pennsylvania
By Gudrun Schultz
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, May 24, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A federal district court judge has ruled that the freedom of speech rights of two street preachers were violated when they were prevented from speaking against homosexuality outside a Pridefest event.
U.S. District Judge William Caldwell issued a declaratory judgement earlier this month, saying police actions against Pastor Jim Grove and Repent America leader Michael Marcavage were unconstitutional. The men were prevented from speaking to participants entering the event area, from a location held by PrideFest organizers but not in use for the event. Police also attempted to create a 50-foot no-speech zone to restrict the men from approaching the event.
"Our clients were outside of the confined area," said Pastor Grove's attorney Leonard Brown, "in an area of the park that people were using like people normally use a park…and the police kicked them out because of the content of their message. So that's what the judge said was unconstitutional."
Judge Caldwell's ruling agreed with a jury trial last December, which found Pastor Grove's subsequent arrest at the Pridefest event was a violation of his First Amendment rights.
Pastor Grove's attorney Leonard Brown is affiliated with the Alliance Defense Fund, a legal alliance dedicated to the defence of religious liberty. Mr. Brown said the ruling in Worldwide Street Preachers Fellowship v. Reed is a significant victory for Christians who want the freedom to witness at future homosexual events, Agape Press reported.
"Christian speech should not be treated differently than any other kind of speech," he said in an ADF press release."
In a similar case in 2005, Philadelphia Judge Pamela Dembe dismissed charges against four Christians who were arrested during Outfest, a celebration of homosexual behaviour, after walking a public street and quoting the Bible.
Judge Dembe said the First Amendment protects unpopular speech as much as popular speech. "We cannot stifle speech because we don't want to hear it, or we don't want to hear it now."
See related LifeSiteNews coverage:
Judge drops 'Hate Crimes' Charge against 'Philly 5' for Preaching at Gay Festival http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/feb/05021808.html
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