Granville NY area church cancels Registered Person's wedding following threats of protests

I understand that some folks get scared when there are online threats, but I've dealt with vigilant trolls for years, and all Internet gangsters are chickens in real life. And Christ stood up for what was right, even at the cost of followers and ultimately his life. That's why I feel the church was wrong to kowtow to the people threatening to protest. I feel like a great opportunity to teach about the boldness of Christ was lost by chickening out.

Protest my wedding and I'll come out and take selfies with you.

https://poststar.com/blogs/don_lehman/blog-church-pulls-plug-on-sex-offender-s-wedding/article_2d441ae6-f02c-5499-a460-19f9125938be.html

BLOG: Church pulls plug on sex offender's wedding
Don Lehman Oct 22, 2019

Many people who followed David Saladin's child sex abuse case for molesting children at a daycare center where he worked believe he should be in state prison.

Instead, because the Warren County District Attorney's Office had concerns about evidence in his case and having two young children testify at a trial, Saladin was offered a plea deal that includes 10 years on probation.

(Saladin pleaded guilty to all of the charges against him, with an understanding that he would not be sentenced to jail.)

That sentence did not sit well with many who followed the case, understandably so. But when word got out on social media in recent days that Saladin was planning to get married days after his sentencing, and the invitation that was posted on Facebook talked of the "fairytale" relationship, the you-know-what hit the proverbial fan.

The wedding was to be held Saturday at South Granville Congregational Church.

Pastor Rick Backus said that he was aware Saladin had been accused of child sexual abuse after the wedding was booked, but in light of the fact he hadn't been convicted the wedding was going to be allowed. But after he was sentenced last week, Backus said it was decided the church would not allow the ceremony under the circumstances.

Many reached out to the church through Facebook on Monday and Tuesday to express their concerns about the wedding, before learning the church had pulled the plug. Some talked about going to the church to protest during the wedding.

"My phone was going off like crazy," Backus said. "I got about two hours of sleep last night."

-- Don Lehman