03-31-2010, 01:04 AM
FAITH UNDER FIRE
Praying in park called 'disorderly conduct'
Conviction 'ridiculous,' says attorney. 'This never should have happened'
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Posted: March 02, 2010
10:55 pm Eastern
By Bob Unruh
© 2010 WorldNetDaily
A New York man is appealing a "disorderly conduct" conviction for praying in a public park.
Julian Raven, defended by the Alliance Defense Fund, was arrested while praying in an Elmira public park during a 2007 "gay pride" event.
"It's ridiculous to consider the act of peacefully exercising one's faith in a public park to be 'disorderly conduct,'" said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Joel Oster. "The county court was correct in dismissing three of the convictions. They never should have happened. We are hopeful that the New York Court of Appeals will dismiss the fourth."
The WND reported when the original convictions of four people were appealed. Three of the convictions already have been overturned.
Originally, seven people were arrested for praying during the June 23, 2007, homosexual festival in Elmira's Wisner Park that was promoted by city officials. Three defendants were removed from the case almost immediately, leaving four to be convicted by Elmira city judge Thomas Ramich of "disorderly conduct."
The convictions for three – Gloria Raven, Maurice Kienenberger and Walter Quick – later were overturned in the Chemung County Court.
The legal team defending the Christians reported the event was advertised by the city as open to the public.
The Christians "made their way to an area in front of the stage and began to pray silently while lying prostrate in the grass. A police sergeant had earlier informed Julian Raven that he could not enter the public park, walk through the park, or talk to anyone in the park about his religion. After the group began to pray silently on their faces, all were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct," the organization reported.
Court records show that a Sgt. Sharon Moyer told Raven he could not disrupt the event.
So, the ADF reported, he and the others "entered the event to pray silently for event participants and to share the Gospel with them."
More on this Story
Praying in park called 'disorderly conduct'
Conviction 'ridiculous,' says attorney. 'This never should have happened'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: March 02, 2010
10:55 pm Eastern
By Bob Unruh
© 2010 WorldNetDaily
A New York man is appealing a "disorderly conduct" conviction for praying in a public park.
Julian Raven, defended by the Alliance Defense Fund, was arrested while praying in an Elmira public park during a 2007 "gay pride" event.
"It's ridiculous to consider the act of peacefully exercising one's faith in a public park to be 'disorderly conduct,'" said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Joel Oster. "The county court was correct in dismissing three of the convictions. They never should have happened. We are hopeful that the New York Court of Appeals will dismiss the fourth."
The WND reported when the original convictions of four people were appealed. Three of the convictions already have been overturned.
Originally, seven people were arrested for praying during the June 23, 2007, homosexual festival in Elmira's Wisner Park that was promoted by city officials. Three defendants were removed from the case almost immediately, leaving four to be convicted by Elmira city judge Thomas Ramich of "disorderly conduct."
The convictions for three – Gloria Raven, Maurice Kienenberger and Walter Quick – later were overturned in the Chemung County Court.
The legal team defending the Christians reported the event was advertised by the city as open to the public.
The Christians "made their way to an area in front of the stage and began to pray silently while lying prostrate in the grass. A police sergeant had earlier informed Julian Raven that he could not enter the public park, walk through the park, or talk to anyone in the park about his religion. After the group began to pray silently on their faces, all were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct," the organization reported.
Court records show that a Sgt. Sharon Moyer told Raven he could not disrupt the event.
So, the ADF reported, he and the others "entered the event to pray silently for event participants and to share the Gospel with them."