November 18, 2009
By Bob Unruh
WorldNetDaily
A former U.S. Navy chaplain who was removed from the service after he exercised his right to pray "in Jesus' name" against the wishes of his chain of command read the biblical condemnation of homosexuality at a rally in front of the U.S. Justice Department to protest the nation's new "hate crimes" law.
Two weeks ago, President Obama signed into law the "Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act" after Democrats strategically attached it to a "must-pass" $680 billion defense appropriations bill.
The law cracks down on any acts that could be linked to criticism of homosexuality or even the "perception" of homosexuality.
In response, pastors and other Christian leaders gathered yesterday to read from the Bible itself at a rally organized with the help of Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Coalition.
Former Navy Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt of PrayInJesusName.com read from Romans: "And they that commit such things are worthy of death."
"The government has to invade my thoughts to decide what my motive was in quoting the Bible," Klingenschmitt explained. "I can be prosecuted if the government thinks my motive was wrong."
Obama boasted of the "hate crimes" bill when he signed it into law.
"After more than a decade, we've passed inclusive hate crimes legislation to help protect our citizens from violence based on what they look like, who they love, how they pray or who they are," he said.
The rally took place in front of the offices of Attorney General Eric Holder, who supported the bill although he explained it does not protect all people equally. He is charged with enforcing the law.
Cass told WND that the event was to "assert our liberties, to register our concerns."
"We're going to press on looking for opportunities to challenge the law on its face," he said.
Some of the rally was captured by Christian Broadcasting Network on video:
"If this law is used to silence me or any of these preachers for speaking the truth, then we will be forced to conscientiously defy it," Rick Scarborough, president of Vision America, declared. "That is my calling as a Christian and my right as an American citizen."
Cass said, "We believe this is the biggest threat to religious free speech in the history of the United States."
