Businesses owned by Christians across America have been persecuted … demeaned because of their faith … fined … threatened with jail … and threatened with the closure of their businesses.
Why?
Because they’ve declined to participate in — and celebrate – same-sex weddings that would have forced them to violate their religious beliefs and convictions – beliefs and convictions based on their trust in Christ and in the Bible.
In Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that:
“The government, consistent with the Constitution’s guarantee of free exercise [of religion], cannot impose regulations that are hostile to the religious beliefs of affected citizens and cannot act in a manner that passes judgment upon or presupposes the illegitimacy of religious beliefs and practices.”
Jack Phillips – owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop – had been asked to design a custom wedding cake for a gay wedding reception…
He declined … but offered to sell the gay couple their choice of any standard cake from his display case.
The two men refused … and filed a discrimination complaint which was referred to the Colorado Civil Rights Commission.
In ruling against Phillips, one of the commissioners demeaned his faith as “one of the most despicable pieces of rhetoric that people can use.”
The Supreme Court ruled that Phillips’ right to “a neutral and respectful consideration of his claims” was denied by the Civil Rights Commission’s hostility toward his sincerely held religious beliefs which motivated his objection to designing a custom cake.
What the Supreme Court did not do in their decision in this case is guarantee that every Christian business owner who is charged with LGBT discrimination in the future will win his or her case…
The Court made its decision on the basis of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission’s hostility to Phillips’ religious beliefs … not on the issue of the free exercise of religion versus anti-discrimination law.
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