Pro-Family/Constitution Groups
Fight
Unconstitutional Pennsylvania Hate Crimes Bill HB1493
(Signed Into Law on Dec. 3, 2002)
Pennsylvania Hate Crimes Law Page Contents
OVERVIEW
From the Hate
Crimes Law Itself: How It Destroys Freedom of Speech and Religion
PDFs of History: News Articles of the Persecution
Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court Strikes Down Unconstitutional Hate Crimes Law November 15, 2007
This bill was signed into law on December 3, 2002 (other website)
Correspondence with Pa. Rep. to Overturn This Unconstitutional Law! (PDF)
Read this Analysis to Know Why The Hate Crimes Law Destroys Freedom of Speech
and Religion!
Alert to Pastors, Priests, & Rabbis
American Family Association of PA News
Law Suits Against First Amendment?
Who Should You Call for Legal Advice?
Additional Legal Clarification from Jim Clymer, Esq.
OVERVIEW - From the Hate Crimes Law Itself: How It Destroys Freedom of Speech and Religion
On November 15, 2007 in a 4-1 decision, Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court struck down amendments to Pennsylvania's expanded hate crimes law (from HB1493), declaring that the amendments enacted in 2002 were "unconstitutional and therefore null and void,” as the bill was deviously introduced for crop destruction and strategically morphed by its sponsors and supporters into one that criminalizes citizens for their religion-inspired speech.
The legal challenge to the law stemmed from the arrests and imprisonment of eleven innocent Christians (see Repent America Press Releases) who, in the words of Pennsylvania's Constitution and the law, were imprisoned because they "worshiped Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences" through public "communication or address" that admonished such sin as sodomy, lesbianism, pedophilia, bestiality, and other such lifestyles, and this communication was "perceived" by the plaintiffs, police, and employees of the state to be "harassment by communication" "toward the actual or perceived… sexual orientation of another individual or group of individuals."
Here is the excerpt from
HB1493 (Printer’s No. 4156)
(emphasis added):
“Offense defined. – A person commits the offense of ethnic intimidation
if, with malicious intention toward the actual or perceived… sexual
orientation, gender or gender identity of another individual or group of
individuals, he commits an offense under any other provision of this article
or under Chapter 33 (relating to arson, criminal mischief and other property
destruction) exclusive of Section 3307 (relating to institutional vandalism) or
under Section 3503 (relating to criminal trespass) or under Section 5504
(relating to harassment by communication or address) with respect to such
individual or his or her property or with respect to one or more members of such
group or to their property.”
This wording clearly
violates, not only Article 1 Section 3 of the
Constitution of Pennsylvania, but
also Article 1 Sections 7, 25, and 26:
Article I Section 3: All men have a natural and indefeasible right to
worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences; no man
can of right be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship or to
maintain any ministry against his consent; no human authority can, in any case
whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience, and no preference
shall ever be given by law to any religious establishments or modes of worship.
Article I Section 7: The free communication of thoughts and opinions is
one of the invaluable rights of man, and every citizen may freely speak, write,
and print on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty.
Article I Section 25: To guard against transgressions of the high powers
which we have delegated, we declare that everything in this article is excepted
out of the general powers of government and shall forever remain inviolate.
Article I Section 26: Neither the Commonwealth nor any political subdivision thereof shall deny to any person the enjoyment of any civil right, nor discriminate against any person in the exercise of any civil right.
Pennsylvania State Senator and Representative Contact Information
November
16, 2007 AFA Action Alert:
Contact Your State Senator and Representative to
Preserve Your Freedom of Religion and Speech Now!
PDFs of History: News Articles of the Persecution
Hate Crime Law Being Used To Persecute Christians In Philadelphia! - Traditional Values Coalition
Judge drops ‘Hate Crimes’ Charge against ‘Philly 5’ for Preaching at Gay Festival - LifeSiteNews.com
'Hate Crime' Laws Threaten Religious Freedom - CWA
November 16, 2007 AFA Action Alert: Contact Your State Senator and Representative to Preserve Your Freedom of Speech Now!
AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION OF
Note: To learn why the Pennsylvania Hate Crimes Law destroys your Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion, as well as how it is Unconstitutional, click Here for the Overview!
AFA of PA ACTION ALERT
November 16, 2007
Now That PA’s Hate Crimes Law is Unconstitutional, What’s Next?
If you didn’t get the news – the PA hate crimes law was declared unconstitutional in a court decision yesterday. Click here to read our news release.
Attorney General Tom Corbett has thirty days to decide if he will appeal the decision to the PA Supreme Court.
Governor Rendell is already calling on the legislature “to immediately approve appropriate legislation reinstating the measure.”
So, what can we do in the meantime? We have yet another chance to stop the effort to add ‘actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity’ to the PA hate crimes law. Call your State Senator and State Representative and encourage them to not support any new hate crimes bill.
ACTION NEEDED:
1.) Please consider contacting your State Senator and State Representative at their district office over Thanksgiving break. Click here for contact information. If you don’t know who your state legislator is, please enter your county or zip code in the upper right hand corner of this webpage.
2.) Don’t forget you can now listen to Diane Gramley’s weekly radio program ‘American Family Focus on PA Issues’ on our website. Click here.
3.) Feel free to forward this alert to other concerned Pennsylvanians. If this alert is being forwarded to you by a friend, please feel free to sign up by clicking here. Please indicate in which county you live.
4.) Please consider
supporting the ongoing work of the
In His service,
Diane Gramley
President
American Family Association of PA
Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court Strikes Down Unconstitutional Hate Crimes Law November 15, 2007
Press Release: The Independence Law Center
Press Release: The Independence Law Center
23 North Front Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101
telephone 717-657-4990 .
facsimile 717-545-8107
November 15, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact Randall Wenger, chief counsel, at 717-799-4299
PA 'Hate Crimes' Law Found Unconstitutional, Victory for Free Speech
Today, Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court struck down Pennsylvania's expanded hate crimes law as unconstitutional.
Pennsylvania Family Institute's Independence Law Center applauds the decision. While the rationale of the court was to strike the law on procedural grounds, nevertheless it is a victory for a citizen's right to free speech.
A challenge to the law was brought by a group of persons who were charged with hate crimes after speaking out at a public homosexual event in Philadelphia. While the group ultimately prevailed on the charges, they brought a challenge to the constitutionality of Pennsylvania's hate crimes law.
Hate crimes laws are always portrayed as a means to prevent discrimination and hatred. "But in reality," said Randall Wenger, Independence Law Center, "as it turned out for the group in Philadelphia, it was used in an attempt to punish people for their traditional views and to violate their right to free speech."
Today's decision of the court rested on the state constitutional principle that the legislature may not so drastically change a bill in the process of passage that it does not remotely reflect its original intent. In this case the bill morphed from one dealing with crop destruction into a law expanding hate crimes.
####
Pennsylvania State Senator and Representative Contact Information
Press Release: Repent America
For Immediate Release 11/15/07
Contact: Aaron Martin, Esquire (610) 444-2001 (or)
Michael Marcavage 1-800-3-REPENT, Ext. 5
PENNSYLVANIA’S COMMONWEALTH COURT STRIKES DOWN "HATE CRIMES" LAW EXPANSION
PHILADELPHIA - The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court in a 4-1 decision today struck down amendments to the state's "hate crimes" law, declaring that the amendments enacted in 2002 were "unconstitutional and therefore null and void.” The ruling was a victory for Repent America (RA), a Christian evangelistic organization, several of whose members challenged amendments.
“Praise the Lord!” stated RA director Michael Marcavage upon hearing the decision. “This is a victory for constitutional government, so let us be thankful,” he concluded.
The legal challenge to the law, formally known as the Ethnic Intimidation Law, stemmed from the arrests of eleven Christians with RA, who became known as the Philadelphia 11, after they were jailed and charged under the amendments to the law while ministering the Gospel in 2004 at a publicly-funded homosexual event known as "OutFest". The charges were all later dropped and/or dismissed as being without merit.
Seven defendants in the Philadelphia criminal cases subsequently filed an action in the Commonwealth Court challenging the process by which the amendments to the Ethnic Intimidation statute had been enacted. In particular, the petitioners asserted that the passage of the bill – which originally criminalized agricultural crop destruction but through amendment became the first statute in Pennsylvania history to recognize “sexual orientation” as a protected class – violated various sections of Article III of the Pennsylvania Constitution. Section 1 of Article III prohibits the changing of a bill in the course of its passage through the legislature such that its original purpose is changed. Section 3 of Article III requires that the subject matter of a bill be clearly expressed in its title.
The Court, finding sufficient basis to rule in the petitioners’ favor due to an alteration of purpose of the bill as expressed in its original text, declined to rule on the challenge brought under Article III, section 3. The amendments struck down today would have increased the penalties for various crimes committed with a malicious motivation based upon "actual or perceived . . . ancestry, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity."
“The legislative process that led to the enactment of these amendments clearly violated Article III of the Pennsylvania Constitution," stated Aaron Martin, attorney for the Repent America defendants. “The Court rightly found that there was no logical or legal connection between trampling down a hay field and assaulting someone on the basis of sexual orientation," he concluded.
The Court’s majority opinion was authored by President Judge Emeritus James Gardner Collins, who was joined by Judges Doris A. Smth-Ribner, Dan Pellegrini and Robert Simpson. President Judge Bonnie B. Leadbetter dissented without opinion. The full text of the Court’s opinion can be found by clicking here.
Pennsylvania State Senator and Representative Contact Information
Our Trip to Harrisburg
I'm sharing my day, November 19, 2002, fighting for the religious and free speech rights of citizens of Pennsylvania, in Pennsylvania's state capitol. Hey, you don't have to be a lawyer - it's easy. Ask me about it.
It was two-hour drive for me to get to Harrisburg. Luckily, I left early. Getting around Harrisburg isn't as easy as I thought. I thought that the domed top of the capitol building would stick out like a lighthouse. However, like most modern cities these days, everyday skyscrapers tower over the once tallest building in the town.
When I finally reached the capitol, I thought of former great Americans, like Benjamin Franklin, who walked on the same ground that I now walked! Remembering the religious freedom that Benjamin and others established for Pennsylvania, I was now marching for that same purpose, to fight to keep that same freedom!
The main lobby was majestic. The archways were covered in paintings of old, right on the walls. Dedications to God are carved into the woodwork around the ceiling. One of the archway paintings was of many early Americans lined up, in a river, waiting to be baptized. Wow. To think that our representatives pass by these every day, and they condone abortion!
I had never seen lobbying groups before; they were all gathered in the lobby (maybe that's where it comes from?). There was a large nursing group, all wearing their nursing gear, gathered in one corner of the lobby, waiting to meet with legislators to discuss nurse-to-patient ratio deficiencies. Luckily, I had my Pa. Health Powers Act flyers in my briefcase, so I handed one to the leader. What a blessing! Thank you Jesus!
Another lobby group was wearing their union hats. Large groups of school children walked up and down the spiraling white and gray indoor marble stairs to have their pictures taken. Many had trinkets and stuffed animals that they bought from the souvenir store.
As I was sitting on a large white marble bench, going through my constitutional analysis papers, I took out my silver pocket watch to look a the time. An adorable little girl in pigtails, carrying her stuffed animal, sat down next to me to look at my watch and said hello. Such innocence, a product of beauty by the hand of Jesus; it refreshed my determination in reviewing my materials as I recalled scripture: "[Mat 18:6] But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." If the bill that I'm fighting becomes law, transvestites can use women's rooms with little girls, and men who think that their gender is female can demand to use public/company women's showers! We Must protect this little girl from harm!
The time came to meet with the senior policy analysts of Governor Schweiker. I went to his office and was directed to the waiting lounge, where I met some of the people with whom I would be making our case against the horrible bill. They had not yet seen Diane, the woman who alerted us to this opportunity, to whom I sent my constitutional analysis. I gave each man a copy. After they looked at the document, they asked me if I had a law degree. I replied that all I needed was a reading and writing degree to compare the bill (PDF) to the Pa. Constitution and see the errors of the bill. They smiled and nodded. You may read/copy/forward my analysis, in PDF or text. See other applicable sections of the Pa. Constitution below.
Did you know that the majority of men who wrote our Constitution were not lawyers? They knew how to read, write, and think; all that's required!
The rest of our group arrived just in time. We were called into a meeting room, to sit around a very large rectangular beautiful wooden meeting table. Old paintings were hung on the walls along with antique-looking light fixtures.
The meeting was 50/50, but positive over-all.
We met with Julia Morton, Schweiker's Senior Policy Manager, and David Kerr, Director of the Governor's Policy Office.
We represented counties from every major area of Pa., which was good. Those who argued the bill with me were:
I represented this online ministry, InfoQuest*, the website for which is InfoQuest* for Truth.
I was a bit disheartened to learn that the senior policy analysts for the governor did not know their Pa. Constitution. I questioned them on where the Gov. gets his legal authority (from the Pa. Constitution), how the Pa. Constitution dictates the responsibility of the Gov., as well as civics questions like whether Pa. is a republic or a democracy. They were silent on some questions and peddled around the others. I was quite shocked, as were the other citizen representatives. In answer to "how does the Governor decide if he will sign a bill into law," the answer was that he leans heavily on the Constitution, AND then he thinks about it to himself AND he takes into consideration the thoughts of his constituents. WHAT???? If he goes by anything but the Constitution, then he makes the decision all on his own, making him a dictator! Our nation and our states are a Republic, Rule by Law, NOT Rule by men or Rule by one man! I explain this in detail at Civics in Seconds.
I know that God sent me there because I was told that I was the only citizen of Pennsylvania to give the governor a constitutional reason against the bill!
Some of the other issues we brought up at the meeting:
After David left the room, Julia broke down and cried (she contributed some of this because she is 4 months pregnant). She is a Christian and shared with us some of the horror stories that she has experienced from religious groups who only quote the Bible, Tanakh, etc. in their arguments. Some of these groups even use horrible slang in describing homosexuals, which destroys the reputation of the Church. It was agreed that these individuals are not well versed in the Bible, since Jesus never showed hatred toward sinners, but loved them and showed them the self-destruction from their sin and told them to turn away from their self-destructive behavior and follow Him.
Julia thanked us for bringing medical statistics (brought by Diane Gramley, President of AFA of PA and Fran Bevin, President of Eagle Forum of Pa.), the Pa. constitutional analysis by me, and the other facts mentioned earlier. Fran works in medical clinics and shared her years of experience watching many many young homosexual men die of AIDS.
Julia repeated the importance of bringing legal, statistical, and other facts whenever sharing our views with others regarding legislation and civics. Julia is from West Virginia. Her dad is a pastor and the Assistant Sheriff of his municipality.
I closed our meeting in prayer, thanking Jesus that we still had freedom of religion and to use us to keep it, thanking Jesus for putting Julia in a civil government position, and praying for Julia's unborn child.
It is my prayer, that all Pennsylvania citizens who read this will contact their Pa. House Rep. ASAP and use my analysis to tell their reps to NOT vote for the bill!
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/index.cfm
AND to call Gov. Schweiker and implore him not to sign the bill if it is passed in the house. (717) 787-2500
Since most state constitutions contain similar religious rights protections, I beseech you, if you are a citizen of any other state of our Republic, that you will educate you own legislator on hate crime legislation and other corrupt legislation.
It's EASY!
Just ask your Rep. for your state's House & Senate website and the website where you can get to your state constitution. Find your state rep here:
http://fp.users.fast.net/infoquest/government.htm#CONGRESS
PASTORS, PRIESTS, & RABBIS:
PLEASE read my October 23, 2002 e-newsletter.
PLEASE preach a sermon on Jesus' mandate to us to be involved in politics, the judiciary, and commerce!
PLEASE have an alter call for those who are called to serve Jesus as a political leader!
Please forward this report and my constitutional analysis of the bill to everyone you know who wants to defend our right to freedom of religion and speech.
Pa. citizens can easily get their Pa. House Rep. contact info here:
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/index.cfm
Today's AFA alert on our meeting follows.
Thanks!!!!
Erich <><
Pennsylvania State Senator and Representative Contact Information
The AFA of NW PA Alert on our meeting:
American Family Association of Northwestern PA
P.O. Box 1048
Franklin, PA 16323
Phone: 1.814.432.5421 FAX: 1.814.432.0931
AFANWPA ACTION ALERT
Update on Hate Crimes Legislation and Action Needed
November 20, 2002
Thank you all for your prayers as we made the trip to Harrisburg yesterday.
A group of nine defenders of the family met with David Kerr, Director of the Governor's Policy Office and Julia Morton, Senior Policy Manager also of the Policy Office to express their concerns with H.B. 1493, the hate crimes bill. AFANWPA is very thankful that the nine were able to drop everything on such short notice (with less than 24 hours notice the nine of us were headed to Harrisburg!) and make the trip to meet with the Governor's office. The groups represented were AFANWPA, Eagle Forum -- PA, InfoQuest*, Lehigh Valley Citizens for Traditional Values and PA Taxpayers Concerned with Education. But mostly we are just concerned citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who can no longer remain silent as we see the distortions of the homosexual community taken as fact and the laws changed to infringe upon our rights as Christians and to further their agenda of presenting their lifestyle as just a 'safe, alternative.'
We did have "encouraging" news as we were told the Governor has not said he will sign the bill as gay activists claim -- BUT he has not yet decided to veto it either. So those phone calls must still be made!
At this point, H.B. 1493 has been sent back to the Rules Committee. On speaking with representatives we found that an attempt is being made to have an amendment attached to the bill in the Rules Committee. If this happens, it will automatically be sent back to the Senate where it will go to a Conference Committee. There the differences between the House version and the Senate version would be "ironed out." But because there are only a few days left in this Session, there's no time. Thus this would effectively kill the bill. Pray for an amendment!
Other sources have said the bill is scheduled for a vote on Monday, November 25, but more likely Tuesday, November 26. Whatever the case, our job IS NOT FINISHED!
ACTION NEEDED:
1.) Continue praying for our elected officials AND state government employees who
work at the Capitol as they struggle to make the decisions they feel are right.
2.) Pray that an amendment will be added to the bill in the Rules Committee, sending it
back to the Senate and effectively killing the bill.
3.) Governor Schweiker's office needs to continue hearing from us. As the indications were that he is undecided as to whether he will veto or sign the bill, please ask him not to sign H.B. 1493, if it reaches his desk. Call at 1.717.787.2500 AND e-mail
4.) Continue contacting House Majority Leader John Perzel and ask him not to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. His number is 717.787.2016 AND e-mail
5.) Your state reps need to continue hearing from us. Contact info.
Even if you have contacted the above three everyday for the past week, it is of the UTMOST importance to continue calling AND e-mailing until this bill dies.
6.) Please feel free to forward this e-mail to other concerned Pennsylvanians.
I believe that we all left that meeting yesterday with a feeling that we had been well-received and permitted to voice our concerns. We know there are definitely people in the Governor's office who are "on our side." But we MUST do our part in praying for them and becoming involved, they cannot do it alone! We must be strong, yet compassionate, in our efforts to counter this agenda that seeks to reshape this nation.
In His service,
Diane Gramley
President, AFANWPA
Pennsylvania State Senator and Representative Contact Information
November 23, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laurel Lynn Petolicchio
(215) 390-1993 or (215) 653-6887
ACTIVIST: GOP LEADERS COVERED-UP UNCONSTITUTIONAL BILL
Laurel Lynn Petolicchio, a constitutional activist, is charging Republican leaders in the General Assembly, including State Sen. Noah Wenger, with covering up a bill that would, if passed, be in violation of the Pennsylvania Constitution and undermine free speech rights as stated in the Constitution of Pennsylvania, Article I section 3 and 7.
"The bill currently being considered for a vote is unconstitutional on the face of it, and does nothing but violate the free speech and religious liberties of Pennsylvanians," Petolicchio said. "Those especially at risk are conservative religious people who may very well find themselves hauled into court unless they keep their mouths shut for being politically incorrect."
"The Republican leadership in Harrisburg - especially State Sen. Noah Wenger - have been covering up the full magnitude of the danger this bill presents," she said.
The bill in question, HB 1493, would amend the state's "hate crimes" law to include the term "actual or perceived" and the words "sexual orientation, gender or gender identity" to the list of prosecutable crimes.
"This bill basically sets up for a lawsuit any minister or religious leader - or any lay person for that matter - who publicly states that certain sexual behavior is immoral or improper," Petolicchio said.
"That is in direct violation of the state Constitution, which specifically protects the free exercise of religion and the free speech of the citizens."
Petolicchio charged that the state's elected Republican leaders have actually promoted and advanced the bill, and that GOP Senate leadership has deliberately covered it up.
"State Sen. Wenger is the Caucus Chairman for the Republicans in the state Senate, so he is the point man on any legislation that comes before the Senate," Petolicchio said. "This bill passed the Senate last year, and yet Sen. Wenger did nothing to try and stop it. He did not publicly denounce it, he did not urge his constituents to send letters to the Governor, he did not urge them to tell friends in other parts of the state to contact their own Senators to vote against it."
"During this past election cycle the people of the 36th District were told what an important leadership role Sen. Wenger has in Harrisburg," she said. "Well, why wasn't that leadership role been utilized to stop a bill that is heinous to its core?"
Petolicchio said that State Senator Gibson Armstrong is also responsible for covering up HB 1493 because he failed to do anything to stop it.
"Why didn't Sen. Armstrong show the same enthusiasm in opposing this bill that he did in opposing the efforts to expand gambling a few years ago," Petolicchio asked. "Why didn't he show the same drive that he demonstrated when amending state law to get money for the downtown convention center?"
"These elected officials are required to take an oath of office in which they promise to protect and defend the state Constitution. How can they claim that they are even upholding their oath when they refuse to defend the most basic rights to be found in the Constitution?"
"Don't our basic civil rights mean anything to these people?"
Petolicchio said that the House GOP leaders are also guilty of covering up the bill, given the consistently short notice they have given House members before calling the bill up to the floor for a vote.
"According to published reports, House Majority Leader John Perzel is a proponent of this bill and intends to vote for it," Petolicchio said.
"If Perzel was really trying to be above board on this thing, why is he refusing to allow a sufficient amount of notice before bringing it to the floor, and why is he pushing it on a short work week like Thanksgiving week?"
The Pennsylvania Family Institute and the Urban Family Council are also opposed to the bill because of the broad implications it can have in stifling religious speech and promoting the radical homosexual agenda.
"Homosexual advocacy groups have been heavily lobbying for this bill in Harrisburg," Petolicchio said. "Which speaks volumes about what they think about the state's constitution, its free speech and free religion clauses."
"Do we really want to live in a country like China, where even our thoughts are questioned?" asked Petolicchio.
"If someone commits a crime they should be punished for their actions, not their thoughts. Have our legislators decided that government is now God?"
Quotes from the Constitution of Pennsylvania [Provided by Laurel Lynn]
The Constitution Of Pennsylvania
Article I Section 3 All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences; no human authority can, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience,
Article I Section 7 ..The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the invaluable rights of man, and every citizen may freely speak, write, and print on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty.
Article I Section 25 To guard against transgressions of the high powers which we have delegated, we declare that everything in this article is excepted out of the general powers of government and shall forever remain inviolate.
Article I Section 26 Neither the Commonwealth nor any political subdivision thereof shall deny to any person the enjoyment of any civil right, nor discriminate against any person in the exercise of any civil right.
Pennsylvania State Senator and Representative Contact Information
Hate Crimes Legislation Could Trigger Lawsuits, Family Groups Warn
By Lawrence Morahan
CNSNews.com Senior Staff Writer
November 22, 2002
Pennsylvania State Senator and Representative Contact Information
First, study all of the information on this web page so that you know what you're talking about.
Second, contact your Pa. Representative and DEMAND that an amendment be entered in 2003 to pull out the unconstitutional language in the new law.
Third, never back down from your God-given rights.
Fourth, seek legal council if you have questions:
Hate Laws: Making Criminals of Christians
Hate Crimes Laws: Censoring The Church And Silencing Christians
Hate
Laws: Making Criminals of Christians
"Hate crimes" legislation, or "anti-hate laws" now becoming government policy in European countries, Canada, and the US is touted as a sincere effort to end bias motivated violent crime and prejudice against minorities.
In reality, such "hate crimes" laws, when put into practice in countries such as Canada, only end free speech. Freedom of criticism and expression are stifled, and censorship comes to be accepted as normal.
The National Prayer Network is the only resource center in America educating the public on the danger of “hate crimes” legislation. Today, 49 states have passed some type of "hate crimes" laws. Such local laws threaten free speech, and must be repealed. But of paramount importance to freedom loving Americans is defeat of S625 “HR1343.” This federal “hate crimes” bill is now perilously close to passage in Congress.
Pennsylvania State Senator and Representative Contact Information
Censoring
The Church and Silencing Christians
Repent America (RA) is pleased to offer a new,
powerful 40-minute educational program produced by Coral Ridge Ministries called
“Hate Crimes Laws:” Censoring The Church And Silencing Christians. This
remarkable program will provide you with a number of eye-opening accounts on how
“hate crimes” legislation is being used to criminalize Christians around the
globe.
The program features the story of eleven Christians with Repent America, who
became known as the "Philadelphia 11," after being arrested, jailed, and charged
with a "hate crime" while witnessing at a homosexual pride event in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2004, along with an interview with Repent America
director Michael Marcavage.
"Hate Crimes Laws:" Censoring the Church and Silencing Christians is a
provocative look at this disturbing and threatening legal tool of the homosexual
lobby.
Click here and order your DVD copy today or
click here to order on VHS to become educated on the significant dangers of
"hate crimes" legislation. Why not order a copy for your pastor or church
library as well? Your order will help to support the important ongoing work of
this ministry.
Featured are the late Dr. D. James Kennedy; Ake Green, a Swedish pastor arrested
for preaching against homosexuality; members of the Philadelphia 11; Christine
Sneeringer, an ex-lesbian; Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist
Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission; Pastor Danny Nalliah, of
Catch the Fire Ministries (who was prosecuted under hate crimes laws in
Australia); and more.
Order your copy today before this program becomes illegal!
Pennsylvania State Senator and Representative Contact Information
Additional Legal Clarification from Jim Clymer, Esq.
[Page 8 of PDF.]
April 17, 2003
Hon. Katharine M. Watson
159A East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
CC: Hon. Paul I. Clymer
216 Ryan Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
Dear Hon. Watson (and to the attention of Hon. Paul Clymer):
Regarding my Pennsylvania Constitutional Analysis of HB1493, which I have sent you several times (enclosed again for your reference), James Clymer, Esq., wrote:
“Your analysis on the construction is correct and your conclusion is most certainly right on. However I think there is an even clearer reason why the exclusion only applies to section 3307. It is because section 3503 and 5504 ARE NOT IN CHAPTER 33. What it says is that the offense applies when "he commits an offense under any other provision of this article" – this article is Article B and includes chapters 23 through 31 - "or under chapter 33". Then it excludes section 3307, so it applies to every section in chapter 33 except 3307. Then it goes on to list sections 3503 and 5504 as other sections that specifically DO apply. They are in chapter 35 and chapter 55 respectively, so the exclusion could not be applied to them. Chapters 35 and 55 were never INCLUDED to begin with except for the two sections specifically listed for inclusion.”
Also enclosed is a letter from Barbara Collier, National Field Director of Dr. James Kennedy’s Center for Reclaiming America. Ms. Collier’s kind words are yet another indication that HB1493 is unconstitutional, and its wording must be amended out of the new Pennsylvania Hate Crimes Law.
Would it help if you heard from people/organizations like Christian Coalition, Randall Terry, Concerned Women for America, Dr. Laura, Dr. Dobson, Traditional Values Coalition, The Pennsylvania Family Institute, The Urban Family Council, The American Family Association, the HSLDA, and/or Eagle Forum to remove the unconstitutional language of HB1493 out of the updated Pennsylvania law?
As I asked in my December 18, 2002 letter to you and in several other letters, I ask again; please introduce an amendment to strike the unconstitutional language from this new law. Please protect us from the tyrants who are taking away our freedom of religion, speech, thought, and communication. I implore you to take this action now, as do all who cherished our previous freedoms.
Pennsylvania State Senator and Representative Contact Information