Convictions for praying appealed

'Christians shouldn't be punished for expressing their religious beliefs'

A notice of appeal has been filed on behalf of four Christians who were fined for praying in a public park in Elmira, N.Y., according to officials with the Alliance Defense Fund, a legal alliance that defends the right to hear and speak the truth.
"Christians shouldn't be punished for expressing their religious beliefs," said Joel Oster, a senior legal counsel for the ADF. "They have the same First Amendment rights as anyone else in America."
The case stems from a visit by seven Christians to a homosexual festival in a public park in Elmira last year. They were convicted of "disorderly conduct" even though the police officer who arrested them testified their actions were peaceful.
Charges against three of the defendants were dropped, but Elmira City Judge Thomas Ramich concluded Julian and Gloria Raven, Maurice Kienenberger and Walter Quick were guilty of disorderly conduct and fined them $100 apiece, plus court costs.