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Business owners threatened, face legal action for refusing to rent facility for gay ‘wedding
Life Site ^ | Ben Johnson

Posted on 08/12/2013 7:03:55 PM PDT by Morgana

GRIMES, IA, August 12, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A Christian couple is facing a state complaint, business cancellations, and vulgar, harassing, and threatening e-mail messages after refusing to rent out a business facility for a gay “wedding.”

Dick and Betty Odgaard said they could not in good conscience allow a homosexual couple to use their business, the Görtz Haus Gallery, to conduct the ceremony itself. Betty Odgaard Betty Odgaard

“To us, [marriage] is a sacrament,” Betty Odgaard said, that exists only “between a man and woman.”

She told Billy Hallowell of The Blaze their rejection was “totally a faith-based issue,” adding the couple would be happy to serve the homosexuals “in any other way,” besides being the site on which they traded vows.

The couple quickly filed a legal complaint before the Iowa Human Rights Commission, saying that state law forbids any public venue from denying the use of its premises on the basis of sexual orientation.

As the story of their denial broke, frightening messages began filling up the Odgaard's inbox, the couple says.

“F--k you, f--k your God, f--k your religion," said one message from an angry gay rights activist. The same writer enlarged upon his thoughts, adding, “You are mean, rude, selfish, mother f---er racist sons of b---hes from hell.”

The family has suffered financial loss for its traditional stance, as well. Other couples have canceled their ceremonies.

The Grimes, Iowa, location served as a Lutheran church for nearly 65 years and is a popular destination for couples tying the knot.

Same-sex “marriage” has been legal in Iowa since April 3, 2009, when the state Supreme Court unanimously declared its defense of marriage law violated the constitution.

Lawsuits and legal actions accusing Christians of violating “anti-discrimination” statutes have risen in proportion to the number of states and localities that have toyed with redefining marriage.

Click "like" if you want to defend true marriage.

Last year, a judge ruled that a New Jersey retreat house affiliated with the United Methodist Church could not refuse its services for a gay “marriage.”

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson pressed charges against elderly Christian florist Barronelle Stutzman after she refused to sell flowers for a gay“marriage” in March.

Christian photographers Elaine and Jonathan Huguenin were convicted of violating the New Mexico Human Rights Act after they declined to photograph a same-sex “commitment” ceremony.

Rasmussen pollsters found earlier this year that 85 percent of Americans believe people should be able to opt out of participating in same-sex “marriage” ceremonies if they so choose.


TOPICS: Conspiracy
KEYWORDS: christian; freedom; grtzhaus; homosexualagenda; religion; religiousfreedom; wedding
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1 posted on 08/12/2013 7:03:55 PM PDT by Morgana
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To: Morgana

The tolerance of the left...


2 posted on 08/12/2013 7:04:45 PM PDT by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
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To: Morgana

Why do the homos insist on going where they are not wanted?


3 posted on 08/12/2013 7:05:56 PM PDT by Mr. K (Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics, and then Democrat Talking Points.)
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To: Morgana

If they’re anything like my militant lesbian cousin, the couple went looking for a place that wouldn’t do business with them.


4 posted on 08/12/2013 7:06:12 PM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: Morgana

Tell the miscreants to Luck themselves.


5 posted on 08/12/2013 7:06:13 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: 2banana

Just remember. Paul Ryan thinks these people should be allowed to adopt children.


6 posted on 08/12/2013 7:07:17 PM PDT by Viennacon
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To: cripplecreek

These perps want’d to “do it” in an a former sanctuary.


7 posted on 08/12/2013 7:07:20 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Morgana
You thought you owned your own business? Nope. The state is your boss and effectively owns everything.

Even you.

8 posted on 08/12/2013 7:07:26 PM PDT by freerepublicchat
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To: Viennacon

Ryan is an anti-law/un-Constitutionalist.


9 posted on 08/12/2013 7:08:16 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: 2banana

it seems like the first thing they do once ‘gay marriage’ is legalized is to seek out Christian venues and stores to harass

“Hey we’re homos and we can get married now so lets go find a Christian organization and FORCE THEM to serve us whether they want to or not”


10 posted on 08/12/2013 7:08:18 PM PDT by Mr. K (Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics, and then Democrat Talking Points.)
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To: Morgana

I bet they wouldn’t rent their facility for a Satanic seance either. I know I wouldn’t.


11 posted on 08/12/2013 7:09:52 PM PDT by DannyTN
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To: Mr. K

Because the fudgepackers want more attention to themselves? There are effing’ thousands of places these degenerate pukes can disease themselves together yet they pick on locations where they know they cause trouble.


12 posted on 08/12/2013 7:10:16 PM PDT by max americana (fired liberals in our company after the election, & laughed while they cried (true story))
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To: Mr. K

Because the require the affirmation of others.


13 posted on 08/12/2013 7:11:19 PM PDT by Ray76 ( Common sense immigration reform: Enforce Existing Law)
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To: Mr. K

> because they are emboldened by a gay preident they think has their back(side)


14 posted on 08/12/2013 7:13:05 PM PDT by jsanders2001
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To: Morgana
Same-sex “marriage” has been legal in Iowa since April 3, 2009, when the state Supreme Court unanimously declared its defense of marriage law violated the constitution.

I've read the Iowa and the United States Constitutions many times, and nowhere is the judiciary granted law-making or constitution-amending authority.

This is a coup d'etat, enabled by the ignorant cowards in the executive and legislative branches.

15 posted on 08/12/2013 7:13:34 PM PDT by EternalVigilance (Equal Protection for the individual's unalienable right to life is not optional. It is imperative.)
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To: Mr. K
it seems like the first thing they do once ‘gay marriage’ is legalized is to seek out Christian venues and stores to harass

That, my FRiend, is the whole idea behind gay marriage.

It is a direct assault on religion

16 posted on 08/12/2013 7:14:28 PM PDT by digger48
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To: Morgana

the left enjoy shoving things down others’ throats, both figuratively and literally


17 posted on 08/12/2013 7:16:06 PM PDT by dontreadthis
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To: Mr. K

Ironic that you never seem to see them trying to pull this stunt at a mosque, huh?

I wonder why...


18 posted on 08/12/2013 7:17:41 PM PDT by Stingray (Stand for the truth or you'll fall for anything.)
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To: Mr. K
Why do the homos insist on going where they are not wanted?

Because cramming their behavior down everyone's throats, so to speak, is part of their sexual perversion...it is a fetish in and of itself.
19 posted on 08/12/2013 7:20:34 PM PDT by rottndog ('Live Free Or Die' Ain't just words on a bumber sticker...or a tagline.)
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To: Mr. K

By design. To bring down Western values.


20 posted on 08/12/2013 7:22:17 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (Great vid by ShorelineMike! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOZjJk6nbD4&feature=plcp)
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To: Morgana

Being black isn’t a sin. Being a sodomite is. The state is now effectively forcing people to violate their conscience because a couple of fudgepacking libtards couldn’t be bothered to find one of probably dozens of other businesses that would’ve celebrated their sin with them.

This country is going to hell.


21 posted on 08/12/2013 7:23:39 PM PDT by Stingray (Stand for the truth or you'll fall for anything.)
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To: Stingray

bump


22 posted on 08/12/2013 7:28:44 PM PDT by GeronL
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To: Morgana

The way out is simple: Rent them the newly decorated hall featuring very prominent banners with bible quotes.

Quotes about forgiveness, certain types of sin, hell, Jesus can forgive anything, contact information about ex-gay Christian groups, etc.


23 posted on 08/12/2013 7:31:37 PM PDT by Darteaus94025 (Phony President)
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To: Darteaus94025

Are there any ex-gay groups left?

I know they finally destroyed Exodus International


24 posted on 08/12/2013 7:33:40 PM PDT by GeronL
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To: Morgana

racist? you mean you can change your race by going in the out door??

if these people do not have the right to choose who, when and where they perform their business... they are no more then slaves

it’s their right to choose

anyone attacking them for it is attempting to deny their rights


25 posted on 08/12/2013 7:40:27 PM PDT by sten (fighting tyranny never goes out of style)
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To: Mr. K

that kind of sums up their sexual habits as well...


26 posted on 08/12/2013 7:43:37 PM PDT by sten (fighting tyranny never goes out of style)
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To: Ray76

they dont call it PRIDE...for nothing!

thats all they HAVE...


27 posted on 08/12/2013 7:54:24 PM PDT by MeshugeMikey (This Message NOT Approved By The N.S.A.)
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To: Morgana

IMO, their goal is to be able to force churches to allow the ceremonies be performed and celebrations (receptions) to be held on church property. The state has no right to force a business to go against its conscience.


28 posted on 08/12/2013 7:54:54 PM PDT by madison10
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To: Mr. K

“Why do the homos insist on going where they are not wanted?”

Well of course they deliberately target people to make a point. That is the case here.


29 posted on 08/12/2013 8:13:19 PM PDT by HereInTheHeartland (Just wanted to say I hope you great NSA folks are enjoying my posts here.)
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To: cripplecreek

That is the difference between a homosexual and gay person. The latter isn’t militant about it and keeps it in the bedroom. The former is in you face about it, even if they get a extra look while holding hands in public for example.

I’ve seen a gay couple holding hands in public, I noticed it, and maybe looked twice however noting was said by either party. When I or others noticed a homosexual “couple” holding hands in a mall and they realized the extra attention, they yelled “We’re gay! You got a problem whit that, f***er!?” into the crowd.


30 posted on 08/12/2013 8:20:35 PM PDT by matt04
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To: Morgana

31 posted on 08/12/2013 8:40:21 PM PDT by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: Mr. K
Why do the homos insist on going where they are not wanted?

So as to force their lifestyle on everyone else.

32 posted on 08/12/2013 8:51:29 PM PDT by Fiji Hill
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To: Morgana; HoosierDammit; TYVets; red irish; fastrock; NorthernCrunchyCon; UMCRevMom@aol.com; ...
+

Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:

Add me / Remove me

Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of general interest.

33 posted on 08/12/2013 8:52:30 PM PDT by narses
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To: Darteaus94025

Rig up an electrical charge that will come down from the ceiling and “smite” the SOBs.


34 posted on 08/12/2013 9:29:20 PM PDT by VerySadAmerican
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To: Morgana

What say the churches in the area? With whom do they side?

If they are silent, why?


35 posted on 08/12/2013 9:29:38 PM PDT by LachlanMinnesota
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To: Morgana; All

A part of their problem with the state is the following imo. The Odgaards evidently don’t know their constitutional protections well enough to get pro-gay rights activists off of their backs.

More specifically, not only did the Founding States protect religious expression as evidenced by the 1st Amendment, but the states have never amended the Constitution to protect so-called gay rights.

So what we have in this case is 14th Amendment infringement by a state, evidenced by some state law which is going too far in abridging the Odgaard’s 1st Amendment protected freedom of religious expression.


36 posted on 08/12/2013 10:22:21 PM PDT by Amendment10
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To: Mr. K

It is to normalize their behavior-—expose Christian children to the sick ideology-—protecting the innocence of children is essential for normal sexual identity formation.

It is like the rotten apple in a barrel-—just by being there-—it rots everything around it—puts sick, warped ideas into little children.....and will eventually create a Sodom and Gomorrah.

That is why they had to get homosexual “marriage”, so Christians could not prevent young children from hearing about their perversion-—to normalize sodomy, like it is in Afghanistan and used to be in Ancient civilizations. The Postmodernist/Atheists have to flip Christian Ethics to destroy the concept from Christian Ethics-— “Individual Rights from God”-—and totally destroy the ideas in our Constitution (for the children) and for a collective society.

Marxist have to erase all Traditions and ideas that refer to the Natural Family/Mother and Father/Jesus/God the Father—for the NWO and to make total slaves for the State.


37 posted on 08/12/2013 10:28:21 PM PDT by savagesusie (Right Reason According to Nature = Just Law)
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To: savagesusie; Morgana
There's nothing "New" about Satan's Old World Order that is always anxious to reinstate Paganism.

A nation that thumbs it's nose at God by approving of the sacrifice of children on the alter of Eros and Moloch will be given over to a reprobate mind and no amount false, feel good, "Christianity" will make any difference. We're looking at what Scripture says is the consequence of our own actions, not the unfolding stages of something on the horizon.

And make no mistake about it, any group repeating the lie that abortion thinly disguised as contraception is a substitute for self-control and moral responsibility isn't Christian.

38 posted on 08/12/2013 10:55:43 PM PDT by Rashputin (Jesus Christ doesn't evacuate His troops, He leads them to victory.)
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