Street preachers oppose Bourbon Street law

Bare breasts, drunken revelry and almost anything else is tolerated along Bourbon Street, but after dark, the city is saying street preachers are forbidden.

Two weeks ago, a small group of street preachers were arrested during a gay pride festival, perhaps the first people to be booked under a nearly year-old ordinance against aggressive solicitation on Bourbon Street. Those who crafted the law say it’s a public safety measure to help with crowd control and discourage con-artists, but the street preachers believe it’s a violation of their First Amendment rights.

Specifically, the law bans loitering on Bourbon to spread “any social, political or religious message between the hours of sunset and sunrise.”

“Have you ever been on Bourbon Street? There on Bourbon Street, you have nude pictures trying to entice people in. That would be my definition of aggressive solicitation,” said street preacher Ruben Israel, a familiar sight on Bourbon during Mardi Gras and the gay Southern Decadence festival held over Labor Day.

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Wordman

It's simple enough: In New Orleans sin is considered good for business and God is not. Should have left them under water, but don't worry, God can cook up another storm.
- Esther
  
  A flood perhaps? for the entire earth, as is told in the bible?
  - mfernandez57MN
    
    No global flood again. Read the Bible, the next time the earth is destroyed it will be by fire. The rainbow is a visible sign of God's promise not to destroy the whole earth by flood.
    - Esther
      
      A fire storm… more like that in Chicago?
Esther

Not entirely,Wordman. You must live someplace other than Earth.
- Wordman
  
  Not entirely what? And I seem to be fairly well grounded to the planet here in North America.
  - Esther
    
    Not entirely "In New Orleans sin is considered good for business" For many years my family and I visited New Orleans since my father did business there, and not once did I ever know anything about what you have implied. It was actually a very beautiful place to visit, I remember it well. … and with reference to the Earth, it seems sin is everywhere… word is we were thrown out of The Garden.
    - Wordman
      
      Yes, Esther, there are righteous people and evil people everywhere, but there are some communities where vice seems to be established as the norm, and is sometimes the virtual staple of their local economies. Think Las Vegas that was founded and is mostly sustained on greed and sensuality. Think San Francisco, the epicenter (no pun intended) of homosexuality, where those who condone and openly practice that sin have become the principal powerbrokers of the city. I believe that New Orleans is manifestly such a place. Sodom and Gomorrah had righteous Lot and his family, but was still marked for destruction. Individuals have a moral constitution known fully only by the Holy, All-seeing God Who alone knows men's hearts fully. Communities have corporate moral constitutions. In God's word we see that He addresses nations and cities and judges them according to their corporate make up. No human community is sinless, but I suspect that Vegas, SF, New Orleans, and other similar places well not fare well in the balance of God's holy judgement. We can speculate based on their deeds, but God knows for certain.
      - Esther
        
        No doubt idiots have given New Orleans a bad reputation … but the "norm"…? I really question that. I don't believe you know New Orleans. If it is only for God to know, as you say, I do not want to speculate, Why should you?
      - Wordman
        
        Perhaps I shouldn't. For the record, I don't REALLY believe the city's destruction is imminent or that it necessarily should be. It's rhetoric, Esther. It's a poetic way of saying that we see as worthy of condemnation the things for which that city IS KNOWN.. On that much I hope we can agree. Unless you approve of rampant prostitution, drunkenness, debauchery, and lasciviousness. Those things are the manifest legacy of Bourbon street. Okay, they also gave us jazz. Woohoo. I've not yet mentioned the area's rep for a higher than average entitlement mentality (slothfulness), a character trait which seemed most evident in the wake of the hurricane. And I read numerous reports of the place becoming virtually unhinged in the wake of that largest storm (lawlessness). Reportedly the streets were so filled with looting, robbery, rape, and murder that people in the downtown area crouched down in their homes as long as they could rather than risking an escape. Along with the mayhem there were, no doubt, incidents of heroism, but I heard about FAR more of the former than the latter. Finally, what can you tell us about a community that will not allow the gospel to be told on its streets? I love The South, and there are, no doubt, some pleasant neighborhoods and wonderful individuals in the New Orleans area, but, on balance, I don't envy those who find themselves stuck in "The Big Easy."
      - Esther
        
        "What can you tell us about a community that will not allow the gospel to be told on its streets?" Why don't we get some statistics about who in "The South" have New Orleans for its sleaze, as a destination. In no way, was my family or any members thereof visitors to Bourbon Street, ever. And the nick name for New Orleans was not earned by any member of my family nor ANY one I knew from New Orleans. Call it what you will, the influence for its reputation comes from regions of the South that would surprise you. Also, check out the murder stats for neighboring Jackson Mississippi, on a regular basis over the last ongoing decade. There, it doesn't take the impetus of a storm for looting and killing, it just takes gangs and they are every where. period.
      - Wordman
        
        I'm sorry you are offended, Esther. But I don't think you understand the difference between corporate judgement and individual judgement. When we say that an area is corrupt, we are not speaking of every single individual or family in that locality. We are saying that the community, on balance, has a big problem. And, yes, there are many cities in America of which we could say similar things. But you seem to be saying that all such talk is inappropriate. If so, then we will have to include God in our indictment since He condemns and judges cities and entire nations. You can read it the prophets and the OT historical books of the Bible.
      - Esther
        
        Wordman, I am very blessed!!! I am a Latter-day Saint. To make clear why I say this, is to unequivocally state: Being a Latter-day Saint is one big step up from being a Catholic. Now, please understand, I love the Catholics, which comprise the religion of near 100% of my huge family. Another thing is, I perceive Protestants as being in the same organization as Catholics, from whence they sprung. My own investigations into the Reformation and its aftermath, and it is pretty deep, has confirmed this in many ways, that basically they are indeed one and the same. It's why I did not join a Protestant Church. It's a long story, but suffice to say, I come from a line of Catholics and one of the things we always did was to never miss church. So just by habit I had to join a church.
        
        This is background for what I know about New Orleans. It is complex, as you have already surmised. But here is the thing: The single street called Bourbon Street in New Orleans is a tourist trap, and to my knowledge has always been, and decent people don't go there. I never once had a lecture about it from my parents, I just knew to follow my parents example and that is one place where my parents did not go, like so many good religious folks. Period,
        
        Now there is one way to get your name in the paper and it is what you have here. Try to change the people who have spent money to expressly go to New Orleans to experience Bourbon Street. This is such a joke,I can't tell you.
      - Wordman
        
        You're an interesting person, Esther. Like my wife you seem to have an amazingly divergent way of looking at things. I must confess that I don't understand what your being LDS has to do with what we've been discussing, but I'll give you the benefit and assume there's a connection somewhere. I'll also concede that if Bourbon Street has little to do with the real economy and character of New Orleans, my assertions about the place may be overstated. But, I'm not sure about that part. In any case, I thank the Lord that He has given us a sure guide, and that I have God's word rather than some man or religious organization to inform my perspective. Isa 40:8 "The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever." And Rom 3:4 "…let God be found true, though every man be found a liar." God's word, the Bible, is our only reliable source of truth.
aceituna

Someone's freedom of speech is being taken away. Right?!?
- mfernandez57MN
  
  Right, but as it's only "Christians" or something along those lines, it doesn't matter.
Evermyrtle

I do not believe that GOD would want them on Bourbon Street, at night. It appears that they were there because of the law and not to represent GOD. I believe the pastors were where they should not be.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004047180339 John Adams
  
  Mar 16:15
  
  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
  - Evermyrtle
    
    Do you suppose they had a Bourbon Street during JESUS time?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004047180339 John Adams

Jhn 3:19

And this is the condemnation,
that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than
light, because their deeds were evil.
mallen11

With the left there is a double standard. Evil can do what they want but good cannot.

Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.
Mex Seiko

And you wonder why the place keeps getting flooded by hurricanes? Perhaps they're do an earthquake.
mfernandez57MN

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who put darkness for light and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those wise in their own eyes, and bright in their own sight! Woe to those mighty to drink wine, and brave men to mix strong drink; who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!"
Isa 5:20-23 MKJV

"Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, and to the scribes who write toil; to turn aside the needy from judgment, and to steal the right from the poor of My people, that widows may be their prey, and they rob the orphans!"
Isa 10:1-2 MKJV