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Thursday, February 19, 2009 "He (Pastor Walter Hoye) was arrested May 13 at the Oakland clinic, carrying a sign that read, "Jesus loves you and your baby. Let us help you!"
As women approached the door, he asked them, "May I talk to you about alternatives to the clinic?" --San Francisco Chronicle, February 19, 2009 "Pastor Sentenced for Oakland Abortion Protest"
Today I joined a number of people from the Bay Area pro-life community, as well as people from as far away as Minnesota and Texas at the Alameda County Superior Court, to show our support for the heroic Pastor Walter Hoye, as he was sentenced by Judge Stuart Hing. Some of what follows describes my own reactions, and I will do my best to describe the outcome, although it is quite complicated.
The courtroom was packed. It has only 60 seats, and there were at least another 80-100 people in the hallway. A few of us arrived around 11:30 and were able to get in, although the hearing itself did not begin until around 2:30. As we waited in the hallway, we sang some hymns. A few pro-abortionists arrived, and on hearing our hymns started chanting in opposition.
I realized as never before what an impoverished world they live in, because while we were singing "We Shall Overcome" and "Onward Christian Soldiers" and "Get behind me Satan!" and other hymns of Christian civilization, the only thing they could come up with was "Not the Church, not the state women will decide their fate." I honestly do not mean this in a condescending or patronizing way, but that struck me as very sad.
Another thing happened while we were waiting. A pro-abortion lady kept trying to push her way to the front, past people who had been waiting for at least two hours. She did not succeed but for a while caused a little bit of a ruckus. She ended up right in front of me and a pro-life woman. Both of us were standing there praying silently--not on our knees or with any show at all (we had both forgotten our rosaries!) or even moving our lips. I don't see how anyone could have known we were praying. But after less than two minutes next to us, she suddenly announced she was uncomfortable and left.
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I'll now describe what happened inside, to the best of my recollection. I was praying, not taking notes, and I'm not a trained reporter, but I believe this is accurate. I apologize in advance for any mistakes.
Inside the courtroom, Walter was represented by Alison Aranda and Michael Millen of the Life Legal Defense League. The Prosecutor made his case, and asked that Walter receive the maximum sentence: two years in prison, and a $4,000 fine. He said if Walter would promise to stay away from the clinic in question, his office was prepared to accept probation. Ms. Aranda, her voice breaking, said it would be an injustice for Mr. Hoye to be "sentenced to anything....", then, fighting back tears, she paused, got control of herself, and said "...for exercising his first amendment rights to freedom of speech!"
Judge Hing then spoke. He said that before today's sentencing hearing he had already been convinced that Walter was a very decent man. He said that the many letters he had receieved from supporters of Walter convinced him more than ever of Walter's basic goodness. He then made the point that the history of civil disobedience in our country (and he cited the Underground Railroad, the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's and some demonstrations against the Vietnam War) does not protect those who violate what they consider to be unjust laws, but that those who practice the civil disobedience must hope that their witness inspires others to change the laws.
Judge Hing asked Walter if he would promise not to violate the stay-away order and would accept probation with this condition for three years. At that moment you could have heard a pin drop. I was thinking, praying: "Man, do it. Let's go. We'll fight another day."
Those who know Walter know that his gentle voice seldom rises above a whisper.
He said: "No, your Honor."
At that moment I thought of Elijah, where we learn that the voice of God was not in the earthquake or in the storm, but in the barely moving breeze. That barely audible "No, your Honor" carried as much weight as anything I have heard in my life.
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Michael Millen concluded Walter's defense. He was logically and rhetorically magnificent. He pointed out that no abortion clinic "patient" was even a party to the charges against Walter. There was not a single "patient" in the courtroom. He pointed out if the "bubble ordinance" "protects" anyone, it protects the abortion clinic escorts and their "right" to censor Walter's message. He reminded the Judge that he (Judge Hing) had seen the videos of Walter having his path and signs blocked by the abortion clinic escorts, not the other way around.
Judge Hing then gave his ruling, and here is where things got confusing. Since Walter had already said he would not abide by the stay-away order, I was sure the Judge would be sentencing Walter to jail time, maybe the whole two years. I did not see how he couldn't. Instead, he sentenced Walter to 30 days jail time, but said it could be done as some kind of community service. He fined Walter $1,130. He sentenced Walter to three years of probation, during which time Walter was not to approach within 100 feet of the clinic in question, a condition Walter had already said he would not accept. Did this mean Walter was free?
At this point, one of Walter's friends, Dion Evans, erupted in outrage at this ruling based on an obviously unjust law, and was escorted out of the courtroom by the baliffs. Dion is a very big and strong man, and thank heaven there was no violence. We rose and left the courtroom, singing "We Shall Overcome." Outside the courtroom, someone asked me "what went on in there?" and I said: ask someone else, because I'm not sure I understand. It turns out I was not the only one.
We waited for some clarification of the sentence, and to see if Walter could appear, and after a good while someone came out and said the counsels were still in chambers and that the Judge was "refusing to accept Walter's refusal." Nobody, even the attorneys, understood this. It's apparently a novel legal approach: The Judge had asked Walter if he would promise to abide by the stay-away order and Walter said no. The Judge then ruled, and asked Walter if he would abide by the ruling. Walter again said no. But the ruling had been made and here is where the judge "refused to accept Walter's refusal."
One of Walter's attorneys explained to us that probation is like a contract: both parties have to agree to ithe conditions. Walter did not agree to the conditions but the Judge gave it to him anyway. Apparently the "refusal to accept Walter's refusal" meant the Judge was going to try and impose the probation on Walter. If I understand correctly, Walter's attorneys said to the Judge, well, that's illegal, you can't do that. One of the attorneys also told us even the Prosecutor had said: my opponent is right, you can't do that. Later Michael Millen said we seem to be in a legal no-man's land here. It's uncharted territory. There will be some sort of a follow-up hearing on March 20. Finally, Walter and his wife Lori appeared, to hugs, applause from his friends and admirers.
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Mark Shea often says "sin makes you stupid." Back on August 24, 2008, commenting on Speaker Pelosi's bizarre statements on "Meet the Press" I myself wrote "The corruption of reason is one of the logical consequences of legalized abortion." I believe this strange day in court, with a Judge tied in knots because of an obviously unconstitutional law, proves this once again.
But the bottom line is: Walter is a free man. He's sentenced to 30 days of community service, but his entire life is commuity service. He has not renounced his principles at all, in any way. And he said very clearly twice he will not accept a law that abridges his constitutional right to freedom of speech. What a man. Apparently, the one thing Judge Hing did not want to do was to sentence Walter to jail time.
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What a great report, Scott. For some reason my screen is all blurry...
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Also posted here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2190100/posts And here:
http://lifeandlibertyreport.com/llr/index.php?/archives/22-Minister-Walter-Hoye-sentenced-for-Pro-Life-Demonstration.html | |
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When a nation gets to the point that speaking out for the weak and helpless is "illegal," but butchering the weak and helpless is "legal," that nation can't be long for this world. "God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever." - Thomas Jefferson “We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was “legal” and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was “illegal.” - Martin Luther King, Jr. | |
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Prior AIPNews related thread.
http://www.aipnews.com/talk/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1874
Edited by Philomena 2009-02-20 12:35 PM
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| Posted 2009-02-20 12:34 PM (#7724 - in reply to #7712) By: Philomena
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| Posted 2009-03-19 5:42 PM (#9781 - in reply to #7724) By: Savvy
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http://www.issues4life.org/pdfs/press_release_30days.pdf | |
| Posted 2009-03-19 5:45 PM (#9783 - in reply to #9781) By: Savvy
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From "nickcarraway" on FreeRepublic.com:
Walter Hoye's Re-Sentencing This Friday - Please Come
3/19/09
Posted on Thursday, March 19, 2009 5:44:13 PM by nickcarraway Rev. Walter Hoye is being sentenced Friday for standing in front of an abortion clinic. I just got this: On Friday, March 20th at 2pm, my good friend Rev. Walter Hoye is once again being sentenced for the "misdemeanor" of standing with a sign across the street from an abortion clinic in Oakland. I would like to invite you to attend in support of our brother in Christ, along with his amazing wife, Lori. Walter has a pastor's heart for the unborn and for their mothers, and he is deeply concerned (as we should all be) about the rate of abortions outnumbering live births in the black community of this country. At the initial sentencing last month, Walter was ordered to jail for 2 years, or probation of 30 days in jail or a sheriff's work program, plus over $1,000 in fines. Walter refused the terms of probation, stating that the bubble ordinance created is unjust and that he would not imply that it was by agreeing to any punishment, for a transgression he didn't even commit. Video evidence proves beyond a shadow that he did nothing wrong. The only option the judge had was to put Walter directly in jail. Except that for some reason, the judge wasn't willing to do that. And the judge hadn't realized that it is illegal to impose probation on anyone without their agreement. After hours of back and forth, the judge "continued" or postponed, Walter's sentencing for a month. Walter walked out free, with no restrictions, to the amazement of us all. To make things more exciting, Walter went right back to the clinic the following week, standing across the street with his sign. See the attached picture. And on the links below, you can watch video of the harassment he gets from the clinic. The clinic called the police when Walter came back, but the police mumbled something about paperwork not complete at the station, and they left without arresting him. So here we go again! Either Walter is going to jail this Friday, or the Lord has more surprises up His sleeve for us. Last time we had over 100 people in the hallway to sing and pray. It was badly needed because the opposition had some really hideous people screeching and shoving everyone, and we expect more this time. The spiritual warfare around this issue is intense. I don't recommend bringing children, due to the opposition's behavior, and they can't come into the courtroom (which only holds 60 people). Last time, those who could not come in stayed out in the hall, praying on their knees while we were inside. Yesterday I went to hear Walter speak to a group of over 100 in San Jose. Most of them had never heard of him before that day. He challenged us with this: "I believe every pastor and every church should be willing to go to jail for the protection of the unborn. If Jesus died for us, if He really does love us and take care of us, then why can't we do this for him?" Walter had the room in tears and he received an immediate standing ovation. He is so humble, so gentle, so loving - even his accusers admitted he was "nice". He and his wife have counted the cost and they are following Jesus wherever He leads. Please come and pray with us, and show those present that we expect free speech to be protected, and we support this man of God in exercising it on behalf of the unborn and their families. It is the least we can do at this hour of decision. You will get an eyeful and an earful, and you will meet committed men and women of faith who will make you think about what kind of life you are living as a Christian. - Time: 2:00 P.M. - Date: Friday, March 20th, 2009 - Court: Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse, 661 Washington Street, Oakland, California 94607-3922 - Bring cash for parking - there are several lots around and the street parking doesn't let you stay long enough. - Courtroom: Department 109 on the 5th floor - Judge: The Honorable Stuart Hing is presiding
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Letters from a California Courtroom by Walter B. Hoye II It’s Do Time “And it came to pass, when the time was come that He should be received up, He steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.” Luke 9:51 This passage marks the beginning of Jesus’ journey to the cross. His face is set “to go to Jerusalem.” The time for bible study is over. The time for prayer meetings is over. The time for performing miracles is over. At this point in Jesus’ ministry, He has already done these things. It is not that He will not do them again or that such was a waste of time. It is however, now time to do what His Father in Heaven sent him here to do. Read more ... http://www.issues4life.org/pdfs/lettersfromacaliforniacourtroom.pdf | |
| Posted 2009-03-19 5:53 PM (#9785 - in reply to #9784) By: Savvy
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| Posted 2009-03-24 6:27 PM (#10059 - in reply to #9785) By: Savvy
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Pastor Hoye's message from Santa Rita FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ISSUES4LIFE FOUNDATION: A CALL TO ACTION
Dublin, CA (ISSUES4LIFE FOUNDATION) Monday, March 30th, 2009 – Walter Hoye, President and Founder of the Issues4Life Foundation
It is Thursday, March 26th, 2009 and I am sitting on the top of the second (2nd) of fifteen (15) bunks in housing unit thirty-four (34) east of the Santa Rita jail in Dublin, California. Here my thoughts turn towards my brothers, men of the cloth, men who are called and sanctified by God the Father. Men who are preserved as the bondservants of Jesus Christ. Men who serve as the holy burden bearers of God’s word. Men who are the watchmen on the wall. It is now in the spirit of the prophet Ezekiel, I write to my fellow watchmen on the wall.
Ezekiel’s name in Hebrew means, “God makes strong, hardens.” Ezekiel’s name not only describes his character, but also his assignment. Ezekiel’s divinely inspired and ordained assignment was both unpopular and unwelcomed. Ezekiel’s assignment stood against the prevailing wisdom of his day that called for the leaders of Israel to play it safe and avoid unpleasant topics of conversation. In Ezekiel 3:10-11 the Lord God commands Ezekiel to “receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears. And go, get to the captives, to the children of your people, and speak to them and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ whether they hear, or whether they refuse.”
Notice Ezekiel’s assignment was to speak God’s word whether or not the people wanted to hear it. This is relevant to us today as the Apostle Paul warns us that in the last days perilous times will come, (2nd Timothy 3:1) that some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons (1st Timothy 4:1). To be sure, Ezekiel’s assignment was a hard assignment. It required him to risk losing any support he may have had from the people and those who ruled over the people. Ezekiel’s assignment required a bold commitment to the Lord God. For me what comes to mind is Luke 14:26, where the Lord Jesus makes it clear the requirements of discipleship.
In Ezekiel 3:16-19 the Lord God continues describing Ezekiel’s assignment. Verses 16-19 say, “Now it came to pass at the end of seven (7) days that the Word of the LORD came to me (Ezekiel), saying, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.”
Ezekiel’s assignment is further elaborated on in Ezekiel 33:1-9. It is clear from the sacred text that being a watchman meant Ezekiel was personally held responsible for the people he ministered to. It was Ezekiel’s God given duty to warn the people of any danger, impending or otherwise. Furthermore, any failure to issue the warning would make him accountable to God for any suffering or misfortune that consequently resulted. Brothers, the Bible plainly says their “blood will I require at your hand.”
My fellow watchmen, today I believe we all have the same responsibility as Ezekiel. Like Ezekiel, we too are watchmen on the wall. Like Ezekiel if we fail to warn the people of impending danger their blood will be on our hands. Like Ezekiel we are to warn the wicked of God’s eternal judgment, hoping that the wicked would turn from his or her wicked ways.
Just as Israel faced the challenge of forsaking the wholly abominable sin of sacrificing her children to the burning, white hot molten arms of Molech (Leviticus 18:21) and wholeheartedly embrace God’s righteousness, we today face the horrors of abortion. Abortion is better described as legalized murder, pre-natal murder or as we know it in the African-American Pro-Life Community, womb lynching.
Brothers, in Black America alone every seventy-two (72) seconds a black baby is murdered in the womb of his or her mother. This holocaust is genocidal to the point that today a black child has less than a fifty-percent (50%) chance of being born. According to the 2006 U.S. Census, Black Americans are below the replacement level. In other words, death in Black America outpaces life. Abortion alone accounts for three (3) times more deaths in our community than HIV/AIDS, Violent Crimes, Accidents, Cancer, and Heart Disease combined. There is no question pre-natal murder, abortion, is the number one issue in not only Black America, but in all of America today.
So what can we do?
First and foremost we must speak regularly and boldly from our Sunday morning pulpits, from our mid-week Bible studies and from our small group meetings on the weekend against abortion. We must inform, educate and activate God’s people to take public stands against the sin of legalized murder in America today.
Secondly, we must install Post Abortion Counseling Education (PACE) Programs in our churches, parishes, temples and synagogues. We must clearly communicate the love, mercy and grace of God, in tangible ways, to the men, women and families that are horribly scarred and burdened by the guilt and shame of participating in the murder of their own child. The God we serve is willing and able to forgive and restore the broken lives of our people. This message of God’s unconditional love and acceptance must ring loud and clear in every house of worship today.
Thirdly, we must break all denominational barriers and stand together against every attack on our constitutional rights. We must not be afraid to face the consequences of our peaceful, non-violent resistance to evil. Once Satan discovers our limit or the extent to which we will stand firm on the Word of God, he will push us to that limit or to that extent over and over again until we compromise our convictions and/or our relationship with God.
America is our country. Many have died, from every color and creed to guarantee our favor of freedom in America today. Such sacred sacrifice must not be forgotten. Such freedom must be cherished and as our circumstances demand, even our blood must join the blood of those that fought, bled and died that their posterity would be free. Finally, we must never forget that abortion kills a baby, an innocent human being, the product of a human father and a human mother. It is my prayer my life will honor and recognize the lives of the men and women who came before me, reflect the will of God upon me and reveal the Son of God in me.
To the Body of Christ I send you my love and affection. It is my desire that you work with and pray for your leaders. Because abortion is such an evil, I am asking all of us to seriously consider prayer and fasting. Luke 2:37 and Mark 9:29 come to mind as I reflect on the power of prayer and fasting. As such, every Christian ought to participate in the 40 Days for Life campaign. This wonderful movement of God is nationwide, even expanding into other countries and deserves our feet, our hands and our hearts.
Near and dear to my heart is the Walk For Life West Coast team. It has been my blessing to walk with so great a cloud of God’s witnesses. Every heart and home that calls on the name of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob should bless this event with their presence and prayers. I am especially looking forward to the day when African-American Pastors and Priests will lead their congregations with banners and signs in the walk for the sanctity of life.
There are many, many ways to support the Pro-Life movement. As I write there are far too many organizations that I personally endorse and gladly work with to mention. Please let it suffice for me to say that the pro-life movement stands in need of all of God’s gifts and talents. Now, more than ever the Pro-Life movement needs all of God’s children working together for good. It is time for us to share our resources and lock arm in arm in the power and might of the Holy Spirit and bring to past an end to abortion, embryonic stem cell research, euthanasia and human trafficking, anywhere and everywhere these evil practices exist. Life in the image of God is sacred, holy and must be both protected and provided for.
Finally, my brothers and sisters in Christ, I want to say a word about sidewalk counseling. As the last line of defense, sidewalk counselors serve as angels standing at the gates of hell. Every church should be engaged in the training of those called by God to serve Him in this capacity. A sidewalk counselor must remain prayerful, peaceful and above all non-violent. If you cannot commit to these three (3) requirements DO NOT become involved in sidewalk counseling. Inherent in the ministry of sidewalk counseling is the danger of arrest and incarceration. This ministry IS NOT for the faint of heart. This ministry is also not only for women alone. I look forward to the day when men will serve as leaders, men reaching men and women reaching women.
To both my fellow watchmen on the wall and my dearly beloved brothers and sisters comprising the Body of Christ, I hope and trust this letter will find you in the will of God. Please know that I love you and am grateful for all of your love, prayer and support. I can assure you that I am being held up by your gracious, and merciful petitions on my behalf to the throne of God.
As you pray for me please think of my wife. Lori has been and is a faithful helpmeet. She is literally “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” Lori is in every sense of the Word of God my Proverbs 18:22 as her presence in my life is a direct reflection of God’s favor.
Now unto Him who is able to keep you from falling, and present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
May God bless you all!
Walter B. Hoye II
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/topic.php?uid=53155233323&topic=8495 | |
| Posted 2009-03-30 7:48 PM (#10424 - in reply to #9785) By: Philomena
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Pastor Jailed for Pro-Life Witness Writes Letter from Prison to "Men of the Cloth"
By Thaddeus M. Baklinski
LifeSiteNews.com
April 3, 2009 OAKLAND, California, - "It is Thursday, March 26th, 2009 and I am sitting on the top of the second of fifteen bunks in housing unit thirty-four east of the Santa Rita jail in Dublin, California," begins a recent letter from Oakland pastor Walter Hoye, who was sent to jail on March 23 for peacefully counseling and picketing at a local abortion facility. Hoye was ordered to serve 30 days in county jail by Judge Stuart Hing of the Alameda Superior Court, who found him guilty of unlawfully approaching two persons entering an abortion facility in Oakland and offering information about abortion alternatives. Judge Hing said that at first he intended to impose no fine or jail time if Rev. Hoye agreed to stay one hundred yards away from the abortion facility for three years. Rev. Hoye refused this term of probation and would not agree to the stay-away order, whereupon the judge denied the defense motion to stay the sentence pending appeal. Mr Hoye was taken into custody from the courtroom. Rev. Hoye is an African-American pastor who says he feels a special calling to work for the end of what he calls the genocide by abortion taking place in the African-American community. As part of his efforts, he stands in front of an abortion facility in Oakland with leaflets offering abortion alternatives and a sign reading, "Jesus loves you and your baby. Let us help." Rev. Hoye continues his letter from prison by directing his thoughts to the responsibility of his fellow pastors to act on behalf of the unborn: "Here my thoughts turn towards my brothers, men of the cloth, men who are called and sanctified by God the Father. Men who are preserved as the bondservants of Jesus Christ. Men who serve as the holy burden bearers of God's word. Men who are the watchmen on the wall. It is now in the spirit of the prophet Ezekiel, I write to my fellow watchmen on the wall." Noting the statistics on abortion of African Americans, Rev. Hoye writes: "Brothers, in Black America alone every seventy-two seconds a black baby is murdered in the womb of his or her mother. This holocaust is genocidal to the point that today a black child has less than a fifty-percent chance of being born. According to the 2006 U.S. Census, Black Americans are below the replacement level. "In other words, death in Black America outpaces life. Abortion alone accounts for three times more deaths in our community than HIV/AIDS, Violent Crimes, Accidents, Cancer, and Heart Disease combined. There is no question pre-natal murder, abortion, is the number one issue in not only Black America, but in all of America today." Encouraging his brother pastors to keep the scourge of abortion prevalent in the minds of their congregations, Rev. Hoye urges them to "speak regularly and boldly from our Sunday morning pulpits, from our mid-week Bible studies and from our small group meetings on the weekend against abortion." "We must inform, educate and activate God's people to take public stands against the sin of legalized murder in America today." Commenting on his own work as a sidewalk counselor that led to his arrest and imprisonment, Rev. Hoye warned that the "ministry is not for the faint of heart." "A sidewalk counselor must remain prayerful, peaceful and above all non-violent. If you cannot commit to these three requirements DO NOT become involved in sidewalk counseling. Inherent in the ministry of sidewalk counseling is the danger of arrest and incarceration." Link to the full text of Rev. Hoye's letter: http://www.stspeterpaul.san-francisco.ca.us/church/rev_hoye_... See previous LSN coverage:
Pro-Life Pastor Faces 2 Years Jail and Fine for Peaceful Sidewalk Counseling
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/feb/09021707.html African American Pastor Sentenced to Jail for Counselling Women on Public Sidewalk
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/feb/09022002.html African American Pastor Sent to Jail for Offering Abortion Alternatives on Public Sidewalk
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09032305.html LifeSiteNews: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/apr/09040304.html http://www.lifesitenews.com/ | |
| Posted 2009-04-04 6:39 AM (#10752 - in reply to #10424) By: Philomena
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