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TechnoratiProminent Christian leaders, such as Chuck Colson and Dr. James Dobson, defended the right of people of faith to speak out on their religious beliefs.
Colson, the founder of Prison Fellowship and former top aide for then President Richard Nixon, highlighted cases in Europe, Canada and even in the United States where Christians have been prosecuted for peaceful speech on the sin of homosexuality.
“[I]n Pennsylvania, 11 Christians were prosecuted under the state’s hate crime law for preaching on a street corner against homosexuality,” he noted, referring to the case of the ten adults and one teenager who were arrested shortly after “sexual orientation” was added to the state’s hate crimes law as a victim category in 2004. The group was reportedly singing hymns and carrying signs peacefully at a homosexual celebration in Philadelphia.
“The Hate Crimes Act will be the first step to criminalize our rights as Christians to believe that some behaviors are sinful,” said Dobson, founder and chairman of Focus on the Family Action, in a message for a petition to oppose the bill.
“Pastors preaching from Scripture on homosexuality could be threatened with persecution and prosecution,” he noted.
Dobson has also pointed to ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, as another “equally or even more dangerous” bill in Congress. ENDA would force non-profit organizations – such as Focus on the Family and the Salvation Army – to hire homosexuals or “individuals hostile to our firmly held moral beliefs.”
“Why are Americans seeing such an onslaught of pro-homosexual/drag queen bills being rammed through the House and Senate this month?” asked Traditional Values Coalition executive director Andrea Lafferty.
The conservative leader noted that the Human Rights Campaign, a well-known pro-gay rights group, is holding an event for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on Oct. 3.
“They want to have a legislative victory to crow about at this Pelosi event,” Lafferty suggested. “Congress is committed to catering to the homosexual/drag queen lobby rather than being committed to the truth.
“And,” she added, “they’re willing to exploit our military by adding this non-germane amendment to a defense budget bill.”
President Bush vowed earlier this year to veto the hate crimes bill if it made it to his desk when the House passed its version of the amendment in May. Bush is expected to veto the new bill despite its attachment to the must-pass defense spending bill.
"I hope and pray that if this bill makes its way to the president's desk that he will fulfill his promise to veto it," said Baptist leader Land.
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