Biblical Message to now be criminalized
Pastor Dale Morgan
Biblical Message to now be criminalized*
Penalties created for those who criticize homosexuality outside church walls
Posted: June 12, 2008
A new Colorado law is helping homosexual activists achieve their goal of
forcing Christians to teach biblical condemnation of homosexuality only
behind the closed doors of their sanctuaries.
The as-yet untested state law promotes sexual identity "perception" to
the level of skin color under state discrimination laws.
Some opponents are calling it a "bona fide censorship law," and top
analysts for Focus on the Family, the Christian publishing and broadcast
powerhouse, are expressing concern over the "mischief" they expect to
follow the signing by Gov. Bill Ritter.
As was reported, Ritter, a Democrat, struck gender-specific restrooms
and locker rooms statewide when he signed the plan into law in May.
The law makes it illegal to deny a person access to public
accommodations, including restrooms and locker rooms, based on gender
identity or the "perception" of gender identity.
"Who would have believed that the Colorado state legislature and its
governor would have made it fully legal for men to enter and use women's
restrooms and locker-room facilities without notice or explanation?"
said James Dobson, founder of Focus.
"Henceforth, every woman and little girl will have to fear that a
predator, bisexual, cross-dresser or even a homosexual or heterosexual
male might walk in and relieve himself in their presence," Dobson said.
But now an analyst for Focus, Bruce Hausknecht, has told us that there
are other, significant, potential ramifications hidden in the fine print
of the new law.
The law provides an exemption allowing religious groups to continue
teaching, inside their doors, the Bible's condemnation of homosexuality.
But the exemption itself is ultimately harmful to the church, Hausknecht
contends.
"It tends to marginalize the church," he said. "They'll say, 'It's just
a church.' It will allow gay activists to continue to marginalize
Christians. They'll say, 'Keep it within your four walls. That's all.'"
But there's further possible mischief that can result from a ban on
discrimination based on sexual orientation or "perception" when deciding
"full and equal enjoyment of facilities, accommodations" and other
factors, he said.
Religious publishers, he acknowledged, could be accused under the law
for publishing biblical condemnation of homosexuality. Colorado Springs,
where Focus in located, also is home to the huge Christian publishing
operations of NavPress and the International Bible Society.
"There are those who simply by publishing Christian materials could find
themselves charged with a violation of this statute," he said.
A spokesman for Ritter did not respond to a request for comment.
The actual impact of the new ban on people responsible for "public
accommodations" expressing beliefs that do not support homosexuality are
unclear at this point, largely because charges haven't been brought and
challenges weighed regarding the law and its potential impact on First
Amendment guarantees of freedom exercise of religion.
However, Hausknecht warned there is "danger" in those waters for any
church that provides any service to its community.
It is possible the law's anti-"discrimination" demands could be
triggered when outside groups come in to use a church meeting room,
auditorium or recreation facility. For the safety of the churches,
perhaps outsiders will have to sign a document stating agreement with
the church's religious beliefs before being allowed in, he said.
The targets of complaints likely won't be churches themselves, but more
likely church schools, programs that offer services to communities and
the like, critics of the law said.
"The intent of the homosexual activists who put this law in [was to]
marginalize the church, keep it inside the sanctuary," Hausknecht said.
Worse yet is that many small or medium size churches will have to go out
of their way, including halting programs, to avoid a potential conflict,
because they don't have the resources to wage a war over their beliefs,
he added.
"It's a lot easier to avoid the conflict than incur the costs of
fighting," he said.
Dobson earlier had nothing but criticism for Colorado's elected officials.
"This is your government in action. It represents a payback to Tim Gill
and two other billionaires who have essentially 'bought' state
legislators with enormous campaign contributions. Coloradans deserve
better!" Dobson said.
"And by the way, because of the way this bill is written, it is not
subject to the initiative process. There is no recourse," Dobson said.
Pastor Bob Enyart, a Denver-area activist on Christian issues, agreed
with Focus' concerns over what appears to be a newly minted state
discrimination against Christian beliefs. But he went further.
We reported on Canada banning opposition to homosexuality; likewise,
Colorado's SB200 has 'forbidden' much publishing of Christian teaching
on homosexuality, cohabitation, etc.," he said.
"This censorship aspect of the law has been utterly ignored," he said.
"The law exempts churches, but that's not good, that's an insult. I.E.,
bigotry is allowed only in churches. Whereas every other place of public
accommodation including bookstores, retail & wholesale businesses, etc.
cannot sell or even 'give away' anything that would advocate
discrimination [against] gay adoption, homosexual marriage, etc.,"
Enyart said.
He cited one part of the new law:
Section 8. 24-34-701. Publishing of discriminative matter forbidden.
No person, being the owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, superintendent,
agent, or employee of any place of public accommodation... shall
publish, issue, circulate, send, distribute, give away, or display in
any way, manner, or shape or by any means or method, except as provided
in this section, any communication, paper, poster, folder, manuscript,
book, pamphlet, writing, print, letter, notice, or advertisement of any
kind, nature, or description THAT is intended or calculated to
discriminate or actually discriminates against... SEXUAL ORIENTATION,
marital status... in the matter of furnishing or neglecting or refusing
to furnish to them or any one of them any lodging, housing, schooling,
or tuition or any accommodation, right [marriage], privilege [adoption],
advantage, or convenience... on account of... SEXUAL ORIENTATION,
marital status... [which] is unwelcome or objectionable or not
acceptable, desired, or solicited."
The Old Testament condemns homosexuality as an "abomination," Enyart
told us. The New Testament includes a reference in 1st Timothy calling
for the use of laws against crimes such as murder and homosexuality.
"There are free speech rights to condemn cohabitation, homosexuality,
state that homosexuals should not marry, should not adopt children,"
Enyart said. "It's now illegal in Colorado for anyone involved in a
facility or business of public accommodation to give any communication
that would advocate discrimination based on marital status or sexual
orientation."
He said many people simply choose not to believe what's happening.
"I have a hard time believing [it myself]," said Enyart.
He said he expects the law to be only "lightly" enforced until "it just
becomes an entrenched part of our legal framework. They're not going to
go out and arrest somebody for selling a Bible at Barnes and Noble."
But then in a few years, watch out, he said.
Enyart has printed a document he hands out that says, "This
Anti-homosexual Flyer is Illegal in Colorado." It condemns the promotion
of homosexuality in no uncertain terms.
"Homosexuality should be re-criminalized in Colorado," it states.