Hate Crimes Prevention Act is getting attention, Holder sued. (All about celebrities)

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Hate Crimes Prevention Act is getting attention, Holder sued.

Posted on: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 09:57:04 +0100

http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=7260375

MID-MICHIGAN (WJRT) -- (02/05/10)--The Hate Crimes Prevention
Act is getting attention as one local pastor questions its
Constitutional rights.

President Barack Obama signed the bill into law last fall.

According to the Anti Defamation League, the legislation closes
loopholes in previous federal laws to allow government
involvement in hate crime investigation and prosecution.

It also expands protection to the Department of Justice to
investigate certain bias motivated crimes based on .ual
orientation, gender, or disability.

A Saginaw County pastor is joining three others to challenge the
law. He fears the statute could charge him and other religious
leaders with a hate crime if they speak out against
homo.uality.

The group has filed a lawsuit against the United States attorney
general.

Pastor R.B. Ouellette of First Baptist Church in Bridgeport says
he knows of situations where church pastors are already being
accused of hate crimes.

"We think if we say the Bible condemns the homo.ual lifestyle,
we would be accused of a hate crime," he said.

Ouellette has served the Bridgeport community for 35 years.

"We love all people," he said. "Everybody is welcome to attend
our church. You don't have to be anything or do anything to be a
part of it."

His devotion to his faith led Ouellette, two other pastors and
head of the American Familyociation Gary Glenn to file a
lawsuit contesting the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

The litigation claims the law makes it a crime to preach against
homo.uality and infringes on freedom of speech.

The Michigan-based civil rights organizations for homo.ual and
transgender people, the Triangle Foundation, says the pastors
won't lose their First Amendment rights.

(Alicia) What they have filed is not true, and I think the case
will be dismissed and unfounded and not based in law but in fear.

The attorney general has 60 days to review the case.

Ouellette says an amendment to exclude pastors and churches was
shot down.

Keep suing. It's unconstitutional.

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