A
abujagirl
Guest
Paul Horner,pastor at the Christian Proctor Church in Vermont, has been sentenced to one year in federal prison after refusing to marry gay couples.
According to NBC, Honorable Myron Danus handed down the harsh sentence. He said, ''Religious freedom goes both ways, Mr. Horner. It is not your place to deny individuals the same rights that everyone else has, rights that were passed down and agreed upon in a court of law, the ultimate court, the Supreme Court. It is not your decision whether or not you agree with the law but more importantly that you follow it and enforce it.”
According to the criminal investigation, the Christian Proctor Church is registered with the state as a ''religious corporation” limited to performing “one-man-one-woman marriages as defined by the Holy Bible''. But the church is also registered as a for-profit business and city officials said that means the owners must comply with state and federal regulations.
The Pastor's lawyer, Tom Downey has however expressed optimism that his client will soon be released. He said, ''We are currently disputing the guilty verdict and I am confident my client will be a free man here shortly. Horner was just using his best judgement according to his rights and religious freedom in this country''.
According to NBC, Honorable Myron Danus handed down the harsh sentence. He said, ''Religious freedom goes both ways, Mr. Horner. It is not your place to deny individuals the same rights that everyone else has, rights that were passed down and agreed upon in a court of law, the ultimate court, the Supreme Court. It is not your decision whether or not you agree with the law but more importantly that you follow it and enforce it.”
According to the criminal investigation, the Christian Proctor Church is registered with the state as a ''religious corporation” limited to performing “one-man-one-woman marriages as defined by the Holy Bible''. But the church is also registered as a for-profit business and city officials said that means the owners must comply with state and federal regulations.
The Pastor's lawyer, Tom Downey has however expressed optimism that his client will soon be released. He said, ''We are currently disputing the guilty verdict and I am confident my client will be a free man here shortly. Horner was just using his best judgement according to his rights and religious freedom in this country''.
