Skip to main content
Sojourners
faith in action for social justice
Sojourners
About
About SojournersEventsOur TeamWork With UsMediaWays to GiveInvite a SpeakerContact Us
SojoAction
OverviewTake ActionIssue AreasResourcesFaith-Rooted AdvocatesChurch Engagement
Magazine
Current IssueArchivesManage My SubscriptionWrite for Sojourners
Sections
LatestPoliticsColumnsLiving FaithArts & CultureGlobalPodcastsVideoPreaching The Word
Subscribe
MagazineRenewPreaching the WordCustomer ServiceNewsletters
Donate
Login / Register

Judge Blocks New Orleans Law that Prevents Preaching in French Quarter

By Bruce Nolan
Bourbon Street photo: gary yim / Shutterstock.com
Bourbon Street photo: gary yim / Shutterstock.com
Sep 24, 2012
Share

A federal judge has temporarily blocked enforcement of a city law that was recently used to arrest Christian evangelists who were preaching on Bourbon Street during Southern Decadence, the annual celebration of gay culture in the French Quarter.

Part of the city's recently enacted "aggressive solicitation" ordinance orders people not to "loiter or congregate on Bourbon Street for the purpose of disseminating any social, political or religious message between the hours of sunset and sunrise."

"That's no longer in effect," American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Justin Harrison said.

U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon granted a temporary restraining order on Sept. 21 and set a hearing for a preliminary injunction for Oct. 1.

Nine Christian preachers and activists were arrested in one well-publicized incident during the gay-themed celebration. One reportedly held a sign reading "God Hates Homos," and others shouted what witnesses characterized as slurs.

But Harrison said his client, Kelsey McCauley of Kenner, La., had nothing to do with that incident.

He said McCauley belongs to a group called Raven Ministries, which was preaching Christianity on Bourbon Street on Sept. 14 when police arrested the Rev. Troy Bohn and several others under the ordinance.

Violating the law constitutes a misdemeanor, punishable by six months in jail and a $500 fine.

Harrison said McCauley and her group are not confrontational. "They don't follow people or touch them at all. They don't even engage specific people unless they want to be engaged."

A group of French Quarter residents and business owners initially proposed the law to crack down on people who would harass or intimidate Quarter residents and tourists while asking for money for themselves or various, often bogus, charities.

After the arrests on Southern Decadence weekend, City Councilwoman Kristin Gisleson Palmer, who sponsored the ordinance and who represents the Quarter, defended it.

"The ordinance imposes specific time, place and manner restrictions on solicitation and associated conduct in certain limited circumstances; namely, at locations or times deemed particularly threatening or dangerous, or in places where people are a 'captive audience' and there is a wish to avoid or reduce a threat of inescapable confrontations," she said in a statement.

Bruce Nolan writes for The Times-Picayune in New Orleans. Via RNS.

Bourbon Street photo: gary yim / Shutterstock.com

Got something to say about what you're reading? We value your feedback!

Tell Us What You Think!

We value your feedback on the articles we post. Please fill out the form below, and a member of our online publication team will receive your message. By submitting this form, you consent to your comment being featured in our Letters section. 

Please do not include any non-text characters, such as emojis or other non-standard content, into your submission.  It may cause errors in submitting the form.  Thanks!

Don't Miss a Story!

Sojourners is committed to faith and justice even in polarized times. Will you join us on the journey?
Confirm Your Email Address.
By entering your email we'll send you our newsletter each Thursday. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Bourbon Street photo: gary yim / Shutterstock.com
Search Sojourners

Subscribe

Magazine Newsletters Preaching The Word
Follow on Facebook Follow on Bluesky Follow on Instagram Subscribe to our RSS Feed
Sojourners
Donate Products Editorial Policies Privacy Policy

Media

Advertising Press

Opportunities

Careers Fellowship Program

Contact

Office
408 C St. NE
Washington DC, 20002
Phone 202-328-8842
Fax 202-328-8757
Email sojourners@sojo.net
Unless otherwise noted, all material © Sojourners 2025