PHILADELPHIA -- Repent America (RA) denounces the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act Thursday by the United States Senate as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (HR. 2647). Despite numerous objections, the National Defense Authorization Act, initially intended to allocate funds for military activities, retained the inclusion of the unrelated amendment which federally expands criminal penalties against anyone who harms an individual based on "gender identity" or "sexual orientation," thus posing a serious threat to Biblical evangelism and active stances against the sin of homosexuality. The measure now moves to President Obama's desk to be signed into law.

As a scheme to further the homosexual agenda, the Matthew Shepherd and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, authored by the late Senator Ted Kennedy, was craftily adopted as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act in July through the efforts of Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and the urging of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), knowing the passage of the defense bill was guaranteed in both houses. Similar tactics to attach "hate crimes" legislation to national defense bills have been attempted over the past decade, including last year, but their adoptions have been removed each time from the final version of the legislation.

Exactly two weeks ago, the House of Representatives approved the bill with the inclusion of the "hate crimes" amendment, sending it to a swift vote in the Senate. Although senators such as Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) attempted to strip the "hate crimes" amendment from the bill during deliberations on Thursday, ultimately its inclusion remained, and by a vote of 68-29 the Defense Appropriations measure was passed. Three senators declined to vote.

With the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, there arises much trepidation about the reality of its imposed ramifications upon "offenders," which include up to ten years in federal prison. It is feared that the enactment of the bill will further create an environment for a police state, criminalizing any individual whose conduct is loosely interpreted by law enforcement as being harmful. Additionally, there remains a concern that upon facing trial, individuals may be subject to the personal bias of liberal federal judges who will pervert the law and send the innocent to prison, and that pastors and outspoken Christians could be charged with "inciting violence" should an individual be arrested for a "hate crime" after hearing a message decrying homosexuality or other sexually deviant behavior.

Repent America director Michael Marcavage, who knows first-hand about the serious dangers of so-called "hate crimes" laws, says that such legislation is completely unnecessary, unconstitutional and unGodly.

"Having been arrested, jailed and charged with a 'hate crime' for preaching the truth about homosexuality, I can assure you that this is one of the most dangerous pieces of federal legislation in the history of our nation," Repent America director Michael Marcavage stated. "This is an attempt by the U.S. government to shut down the Gospel of Jesus Christ by criminalizing Christians who reach out in the love of God to those trapped in the bondage of homosexuality," he continued. "The passage of this 'hate crimes' legislation is one giant leap in the direction of persecuting Christians nationwide," Marcavage concluded.

In 2004, Marcavage and 10 other individuals known as the "Philadelphia 11" made national headlines after being charged with a "hate crime" for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the public streets of Philadelphia during an annual taxpayer-funded celebration of homosexuality called "Outfest." Simply by preaching the Word of God, singing songs of praise and carrying banners with Scripture verses, the Christians were viewed by local law enforcement as being a "threat" and were subsequently arrested. At...