Christian group gets obscene, hateful messages

The man who led 11 Christians in protesting a homosexual event in Philadelphia and is one of five criminally charged for his actions is now receiving hateful, vulgar messages via his website and voice-mail system.

Michael Marcavage, the head of Repent America, received an obscenity-laced voice-mail message on Thursday in which the caller expresses his hope that the Christian activist will serve time in prison and be raped there.

"Michael, I hope you enjoy your time in prison, you piece of s--t," the caller said. "You are a worthless piece of s--t."

As WorldNetDaily reported, on Oct. 10, a group of 11 Christians was "preaching God's Word" to a crowd of people attending the Philadelphia "OutFest" event and displaying banners with biblical messages.

After a confrontation with a group called the Pink Angels, described by protesters as "a militant mob of homosexuals," the Christians were arrested and spent a night in jail.

Eight charges were filed: criminal conspiracy, possession of instruments of crime, reckless endangerment of another person, ethnic intimidation, riot, failure to disperse, disorderly conduct and obstructing highways.

None of the Pink Angels was cited or arrested.

After a preliminary hearing in December, Judge William Austin Meehan ordered four of the Christians to stand trial on three felony and five misdemeanor charges. If convicted, they could each get a maximum of 47 years in prison. One female teenage protester faces charges in the juvenile justice system.

The caller to Marcavage's organization was hopeful the activist would spend time behind bars.

"Go f--- yourself," the male caller said. "Enjoy your time in prison, and I hope Bubba has a good time [anally raping you.]"

Another enemy of Marcavage, who claimed to be a member of the American Civil Liberties Union, left a message on the Repent America website e-mail interface. It said:

"As a member of the American Civil Liberties Union and a Unitarian-Universalist, I am committed to your suffering the maximum penalty the law will give you. And I will take particular delight knowing your families and loved ones will suffer, too.

"You know my address and my phone if you cowardly bottom-feeders want to come out to where I live and settle this. Bring your god with you. You will need all the help you can get."

Marcavage and the other Christians, known as the "Philadelphia 5," face ethnic intimidation charges stemming from Pennsylvania's hate-crimes law.

At last month's preliminary hearing, Assistant District Attorney Charles Ehrlich characterized the protesters' reading Bible verses that condemn homosexual acts as "hateful, disgusting, despicable words," and as "fighting words."