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May 10, 2007

Hate Crimes Legislation and Christian Persecution

A lot of fundamentalist Christians are absolutely convinced that federal hate crimes legislation will wind up getting them and their pastors thrown into jail over their views on homosexuality. WorldNet Daily writes about this in an article entitled, "Diss a 'gay'? Go to jail!." A lead article this weekend at Cutting Edge stated, "Secular people are soon going to be seriously considering Christians to be such a threat to the rest of society that they need to be restrained and/or controlled." Another Cutting Edge article calls the legislation "the most ominous attack on 'free speech' and Christianity since the founding of our nation." And Whistleblower Magazine this month features an article about the legislation entitled, "Criminalizing Christianity."

These articles frequently cite cases in other countries as "proof" of what is to be expected here in the future. For instance, "Diss a 'gay'? Go to jail!" talks about three Christians in Australia who have been indicted for criticizing other religions, and a fourth individual who was threatened with arrest for using the term "homosexual" instead of "gay." It also references a German priest facing jail time for criticizing abortionists, a Swedish Pastor who was jailed for preaching that homosexuality is sin, the laws in Holland against criticizing "fornicators" and "adulterers," and the fining of Canadian and French legislators for publicly criticizing homosexuality (disclaimer: I have not researched to find out whether these assertions even have merit). Never mind the fact that the First Amendment does not apply in Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Canada, or France and never mind the fact that the liberals these people most fear are the very same people who most strongly defend the First Amendment. In these people's minds, the legislation is "stealth legislation at its most devious" and will led to the end of free speech.

Michael Marcavage, director of RepentAmerica.com, claims that under federal hate crimes legislation, if someone even reads the Bible in public, a homosexual could claim emotional damage and press charges, resulting in fines and imprisonment for the person reading the Bible. Okay, maybe if some unauthorized person was reading anti-gay quotes from the Bible over the public address system in an airport. But in church? Come on. Yet Jim Clymer, national chairman of the Constitution Party, says the legislation would make the Bible "hate literature" and says preaching from it would be "hate speech." I can find plenty of rational reasons someone might oppose hate crimes legislation, but this seems to me to be ridiculous.

Oregon's own Mary Starrett, communications director for the Constitution Party, is even getting in on the act. "H.R. 254 would make certain types of speech a federal offense. So-called 'hate crimes' legislation is dangerous for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the blatant unconstitutionality of such laws. 'Hate crime' laws would allow federal 'thought police' to interfere in the law enforcement authority of states and localities - something our founders were clear was NOT to be allowed. H.R. 254 would require every state to pass and enforce 'anti-hate' laws. It would outlaw stating a 'bias' against certain 'federally protected' groups such as homosexuals."

How can people who claim to be members of the Constitution Party fail to understand the First Amendment's protections to this degree? People say hateful things in this country every day. Did Don Imus get prosecuted for hate crimes for making a disparaging remark about people who are already included in hate crimes legislation? Of course not!

Then how can it be that these people are so convinced they will end up in jail for opposing homosexuality? Cutting Edge explains:

At this point, the persecution foretold in Revelation and Daniel will be imminent. … This bill will set the stage for the Federal Government to attack Christians all across the board all at once, which is something dictators love to do! Adolf Hitler proved that using militant gays to attack the Old World Order was a very effective weapon; he used the Brown Shirts vigorously to tear down the old political system in Germany so he could install his version of the German New World Order.

The fact is, fundamentalist Christians are fully expecting to be persecuted for their faith. It is a fundamental tenant of their faith. It says so right there in Revelation! They are sure of it to the point that you simply cannot put their minds at ease. They will, therefore, never ever give up on their opposition to hate crimes legislation, nor will they ever be rational enough to argue against it with the sort of reasoned arguments that might actually make a difference in the debate. What a shame.

Posted by Becky at May 10, 2007 11:53 AM