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Repent America challenges state 'hate crimes' legislation

A pro-family activist from Pennsylvania says conservative, Bible-believing Christians throughout that state must stand against "hate crimes" legislation. The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania will hear oral arguments next month in a lawsuit brought by Repent America in an effort to overturn hate crimes laws in the state.



The case was prompted after 11 Christians were arrested nearly three years ago as they witnessed in a public area during Outfest, a homosexual pride event in Philadelphia. Repent America president Michael Marcavage was among those arrested and charged under Pennsylvania's hate crimes law; however, the charges were later dismissed by a Common Pleas Court judge as being without merit.

Marcavage says Pennsylvania's hate crimes bill was reworked. "It was initially a bill to protect farm machinery, equipment and crops from vandalism," he explains. However, he says the rewriters of the legislation "ultimately had stripped all the original language of the bill and made it a bill about protecting people based on their sexual orientation, sexual identity, et cetera."

The hate crimes bill was passed in an unconstitutional manner, the Repent America spokesman insists. He feels churches need to teach their congregations the facts about the issue.

"I believe that a lot of churches have not been properly educated on the dangers of hate crimes legislation," Marcavage observes, "and I think that there is a fear of getting involved in what they would consider political matters, but this is a spiritual battle that we are fighting."

It is very important that Christians pray about what is happening in America, Marcavage says. And it is likewise important that believers be "educated on what is happening, and ... take action when necessary," he adds.

Absolutely!  There are many critical issues impacting Americans today.  If we remain complacent, our great country will be destroyed. 

Hello all. I have been gone quite a while but I am back!!!! ;D I have sorely missed our fellowship together and I am eager to catch up. Lets start by teilling you our lawmakers are currently passing a bill in NC that adds sexual orientation as a hate crime. It should pass within a couple of months. Also last week a county school board dropped an elective Bible course from the Pender County school system. This program was an elective course and was open to those who only WANTED to take the course. It was funded by our local churches. I found out the ACLU was the main reasoning behind this. They caught wind of the course which has been in place for quite some time and threatened to sue if the school board did not remove the course. Well not one of the school board members had the backbone to stand up for the course and so it was removed this week. Its bad enough when you read about it somewhere else but when it happens close to home you realize how hard the devil is working to claim all the souls he can. Jesus is coming soon and quickly.

I'm glad to see you back with us.

That is so true. There are many that do not take to heart what is happening until it is on their own front door. By that time the evil is already upon us and ready to consume us.

This sort of action is rapidly happening in many areas.