On Palm and Easter Sundays of each year, the saints of Denver proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ at St. John’s Episcopal “Church”.  This apostate church promotes abortion, and teaches the “Gospel of Inclusion”, meaning that homosexual people can enter the Kingdom of God without repenting of their sinful lifestyle.  This cathedral is one of the most influential religious institutions in the state of Colorado.  Its beautiful façade is breath-taking!  The leader of this congregation is a man named Peter Eaton and, unfortunately, the false gospel that this wolf teaches is leading many straight to hell.

When Mr. Eaton heard that the saints may be gathering to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ on the public sidewalks in front of St. John’s on Palm Sunday 2005, he obtained a parade permit that would bar anyone but his congregation from gathering on the sidewalks in front of St. John’s facility.  This was done to prevent the handing out of literature or holding signs of aborted babies by Christians desiring to fulfill the Great Commission.  According to the permit, St. John’s had to block the sidewalk at either end of the “solemn procession” for the permit to be “valid”.  Although St. John’s did not comply with the stipulations of the permit, the police refused to allow gentle Christians on the public sidewalk to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  However, others were allowed to access the public sidewalk.  It was obvious that Mr. Eaton and his religious group’s single purpose was to squash the free speech of Bible-believing Christians.

Although the permit prevented Christians from being on the public sidewalk, it didn’t prohibit them from standing on their legally parked cars across the street.  Because the permit proved useless, Mr. Eaton and his religious group decided to file a lawsuit against Ken Scott and Clifton Powell, two Christians who brought the Gospel to St. John’s.  A temporary restraining order was issued against the saints while the lawsuit was under litigation.  This restraining order prohibited the Christians from going within one-half to one block from any entrances of St. John’s.

In July of 2005, Operation Save America, a Christian missionary group, led by Rev. Flip Benham visited Denver.  As they came to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the sidewalks, they found that the same restraining order that applied to the local Christians, also applied to them – unnamed, complete strangers from other states!

The lawsuit brought about by St. John’s was made possible because there is a new law in Colorado that threatens Christians from exercising their First Amendment rights of praying and preaching on public sidewalks.  This “Nuisance law” makes free speech punishable by an injunction the first time it is violated.  If the law is violated a second time, fines or jail time will apply.  Because the leaders of St. John’s did not like their sin being exposed, they hired one of the largest law firms in Colorado to represent them,  Holme Roberts & Owen LLP (www.hro.com).

When the lawsuit came to trial in October 2006, Ken Scott and Clifton Powell acted as their own attorneys.  The trial lasted five days and the judge gave St. John’s a permanent injunction against the Christian witnesses.  It is evident throughout the transcripts that the judge in the case directed the attorneys for St. John’s to victory.  He stated that this injunction must keep the Christians ½ to a full block away from any entrances to the facility.  This ruling prohibits the distributing of literature to St. John’s members, attendees, and newcomers who may not know the false teaching promulgated by the elders.

The case has since been appealed and is currently awaiting a date in the Colorado Appeals Court.  Life Legal Defense Fund has joined in with an Amicus Brief (Friend of the Court brief) and has turned in the brief by the deadline given.  St. John’s however, has asked for an extension and is hiring a larger more influential law firm (Faegre & Benson, LLP) to represent them.

If you would like to see the Amicus brief from the Legal Defense Fund, please go to:  www.knowyourcourts.com/scott/06CA2421.htm