Many people driving past the Havens Corners Church in Blacklick, Ohio, Wednesday were schocked to find a sign with the text "I kissed a girl and I liked it. Then I went to hell." outside the church.

"It's not something that is really a shock if you're a scriptural person," said the Rev. Dave Allison, pastor of the 100-member church at Havens Corners and Reynoldsburg-New Albany roads. "We meant that as a loving warning to teens. … The Scriptures tell us that you should not do what the song tells you to do. The Scriptures are not ambiguous on this issue."

Allison said he has heard from people who, he said, either were not familiar with the song and didn't understand the cultural reference, or didn't understand the message.

Wendy Olinski of Reynoldsburg got the message loud and clear. She heard about the sign from her neighbor, who had driven by the church, and she went to check it out for herself.

"It was obvious: 'If you're gay, you're going to hell.' At first I have to say I laughed hysterically because I was shocked," she said. "But that's going way too far. It's just rude."

Last update: 01-29-2009 17:33