UPDATE: The U.S. House of Representatives passed federal "hate crimes" bill H.R. 1592 by a vote of 237 to 180 today, Thursday, May 3, 2007. However, the White House issued a statement prior to its passing, stating that President Bush would veto such legislation if it gains Senate approval and heads to his desk.

"We must continue to pray and raise our voices against all thought crimes legislation, and also work to repeal similar state laws," Repent America director Michael Marcavage stated upon hearing of the vote and veto declaration. "Those who hate God are working to criminalize those who love Him, and they are making great strides to see that it happens. We must not remain silent as our liberty to freely speak the Word of God and the Gospel message is being threatened by those who are framing mischief by a law," Marcavage concluded.

LIFT UP THY VOICE AS THE FIRST AMENDMENT NEARS DEATH 4/27

PHILADELPHIA – Repent America (RA) is urgently calling Christians not to exercise their "right to remain silent" as the federal "hate crimes" bill proposal, H.R. 1592, heads for a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday, May 3, 2007.

"H.R. 1592 is an unnecessary, unconstitutional, and un-American bill, which, with the aid of homosexual-friendly prosecutors, will be used to criminalize Christians for their thoughts, beliefs, and speech," stated Repent America director Michael Marcavage. "The silence of the American church, together with the unrelenting rage of the ungodly, will soon result in the widespread incarceration of true believers," said Marcavage.

In October of 2004, eleven Christians with RA were arrested while ministering and preaching the Word of God and the Gospel message on the public streets and sidewalks of Philadelphia during a taxpayer-funded celebration of homosexuality. After spending 21 hours in jail, the District Attorney’s office charged the eleven under Pennsylvania’s hate crimes law, along with a host of other felony and misdemeanor charges. These charges were later dismissed, but if convicted, the Christians would have faced up to 47 years in prison and $90,000 in fines each.

"If H.R. 1592 is passed and signed into law, it will go beyond the state’s anti-‘hate’ arsenal, and supply federal prosecutors with the ammunition to police our thoughts, beliefs, and speech with even much broader applications," Marcavage said. "The First Amendment is already on life support, particularly as it applies to religious liberty. Christians must diligently work to revive our liberties by working to stop the homosexual agenda and its allies from pulling the plug. Otherwise, preparations should be made for the funeral, but this time without the preacher," Marcavage concluded.

"Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? … Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?" (Psalm 94:16, 20)