Their belief in the biblical definition of marriage puts one Idaho couple center stage in America’s culture war over same-sex marriage.
Donald and Evelyn Knapp own a Hitching Post Wedding Chapel. They are also Christians and ordained ministers and have been marrying couples since 1989 in traditional marriage services without conflict until now.
The city of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho has a non-discrimination statute that includes sexual orientation and gender identity. Since the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Idaho’s constitutional marriage amendment defining marriage as a union of a man and woman, the statute is being enforced.
The Knapps were told by city officials if they didn’t perform same-sex weddings they would face fines and even jail time.
The city told the couple that the statute includes “public accomodations” and consider their business as one.
Friday, a same-sex couple asked to be married at the wedding chapel. When the Knapps, who themselves have been married 47 years, declined based on their religious belief – they immediately faced the fines and possibility of jail time.
Attorneys representing them say this is government coercion. They say just because the government recognizes same-sex marriages doesn’t mean citizens, even business owners, should be forced to do so.
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative public policy education and information group, wrote about the case on its “Daily Signal” website.
Source: CBN News
