| | Conversely, threats and vandalism by homosexual activists are typically not treated as hate crimes. For example, "The Federal Bureau of Investigation has refused to investigate threats made by homosexual activists against a Missouri Baptist Convention church in the Lake of the Ozarks area."<ref>[http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=17075 Pastor finds FBI unresponsive to homosexual activists' threats], Bob Baysinger, ''Baptist Press'', Nov 13, 2003.</ref> | | Conversely, threats and vandalism by homosexual activists are typically not treated as hate crimes. For example, "The Federal Bureau of Investigation has refused to investigate threats made by homosexual activists against a Missouri Baptist Convention church in the Lake of the Ozarks area."<ref>[http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=17075 Pastor finds FBI unresponsive to homosexual activists' threats], Bob Baysinger, ''Baptist Press'', Nov 13, 2003.</ref> |
| − | Hate laws do not criminalize speech or preaching the Gospel. Rather these laws impose higher penalties when interactions shift from speech to violence. Hate crime laws cover violence that targets people because of their religion. So, if someone preaching in public is physically attacked, the hate crime statute could be used to impose higher penalties. | + | Hate laws currently and officially do not criminalize speech or preaching the Gospel. Rather these laws impose higher penalties when interactions shift from speech to violence. Hate crime laws cover violence that targets people because of their religion. So, if someone preaching in public is physically attacked, the hate crime statute could be used to impose higher penalties. |
| | + | Despite what the laws officially say, observers have seen an increased intolerance towards biblical Christians, whose views—while being completely legitimate and sincere—are leaving the cultural mainstream because of the leftward, secular, and anti-Christian drift of the culture. |
| | + | For example, in a government report released in 2016, Martin R. Castro, the chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, stated that "The phrases “religious liberty” and “religious freedom” will stand for nothing except hypocrisy so long as they remain code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy or any form of intolerance."<ref>Showalter, Brandon (Setpember 9, 2016). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/religious-freedom-code-word-bigotry-christian-supremacy-us-civil-rights-commissioner-martin-castro-169370/ Religious Freedom Is 'Code Word' for Bigotry, Christian Supremacy, US Civil Rights Commissioner Says]. ''The Christian Post''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Kellner, Mark A. (September 8, 2016). [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/sep/8/religious-freedom-religious-liberty-just-code-word/ ‘Religious freedom,’ ‘liberty’ just ‘code words’ for intolerance, U.S. Civil Rights chairman says]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://religionnews.com/2016/09/08/chairman-of-u-s-commission-on-civil-rights-calls-the-phrases-religious-liberty-and-religious-freedom-code-words-for-discrimination-intolerance-racism-s/ Chairman of U.S. Commission on Civil Rights calls the phrases ‘religious liberty’ and ‘religious freedom’ code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, and Christian supremacy]. ''Religion News Service''. September 8, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Carter, Joe (September 13, 2016). [https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/u.s.-civil-rights-commission-religious-freedom-is-code-word-for-racism-homophobia-and-christian-supremacy U.S. Civil Rights Commission: ‘Religious Freedom’ Is Code Word for Racism, Homophobia, and ‘Christian Supremacy’]. ''The Gospel Coalition''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref> |