TimberCreek Bed & Breakfast of Paxton, Illinois.
Posted on 12/06/2016 2:34:16 PM PST by SeekAndFind
A decision forcing a Christian-owned bed and breakfast to pay a same-sex couple $30,000 for refusing to host their wedding ceremony will stand.
A 3-member panel of the Illinois Human Rights Commission refused to hear an appeal in a decision compelling TimberCreek Bed & Breakfast to pay a fine for declining to host a gay wedding on their property, although they have hosted opposite-sex weddings in the past.
TimberCreek owner Jim Walder told The Christian Post that they took issue with the panel decision and were planning to appeal to the full state Human Rights Commission.
"Citizens should only decide not to obey a law after much thought and only in extreme circumstances," said Walder.
"In our opinion, forcing a small business with one employee to host gay marriage which violates the owners sincerely-held Biblical belief that marriage is between one man and one woman is an extreme circumstance, especially when marriage has been understood for thousands of years to be a union between one man and one woman."
In 2011, TimberCreek refused to host a same-sex wedding ceremony, with Walder stating at the time that he opposed on religious grounds to holding such ceremonies even if they became legal.
"We will never host same-sex civil unions. We will never host same-sex weddings even if they become legal in Illinois," said Walder in 2011.
"We believe homosexuality is wrong and unnatural based on what the Bible says about it. If that is discrimination, I guess we unfortunately discriminate."
In response to the refusal, the same-sex couple filed a formal complaint with the state's Department of Human Rights arguing that it is a rejection of the Illinois Human Rights Act.
In March, Administrative Law Judge Michael R. Robinson ordered TimberCreek to pay the same-sex couple $30,000 for causing emotional distress, plus over $50,000 in attorney fees.
"Respondent [must] pay each Complainant $15,000, which represents damages for the emotional distress arising out [of] its refusal to host their same-sex, civil union ceremony," ordered Robinson.
"Respondent [must] be directed to cease and desist from violating the Human Rights Act by discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation when denying same-sex couples access to its facilities and services for their civil union ceremonies and/or marriages."
Regarding the Commission's upholding of the previous decision, Walder told a local media outlet that the "fix was in from the get-go," as he said two of the three panel members were involved in LGBT activism or openly gay.
"The public probably assumes that these three commissioners were nonpartisan, fair and neutral when the exact opposite was the case," stated Walder.
"This feels like blatant reverse discrimination against all business owners, Christian or otherwise, by the IHRC, which is supposed to be an unbiased, neutral party in resolving complaints."
They shouldn’t be dealing with a State Commission. Or appealing to such.
They should first file a religious discrimination suit in state court and seek a temporary injunction on the fine, and relief from the commission order to host homo weddings.
If they lose in state court, they must appeal to the federal district court, asking same.
Maybe their church, or some other Christian charity can help with the legal bills.
Here is an organization fighting for the rights of Christians to live their lives according to Biblical Principles:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Center_for_Law_%26_Justice
Where are those ignorant, stupid folks on here who said so what about homo marriage , and it doesn’t affect us?
Yet again we see religious persecution which was backed by the Dems, liberaltarians etc.
Pretty sure a good attorney could restructure their business model to be a private club. Problem solved.
Christians have no freedom of religion, no freedom of thought, no freedom of association, and no private property “rights’. It is special “rights” (unconstitutional) for evil, dysfunctional, mentally ill people.
There is no right for evil, dysfunctional behaviors like sodomy, nor any “Natural Right from God” to kill one’s own genetic offspring. Both learned behaviors are “Evil” and a Justice System can NEVER promote vice-—or evil acts, where human beings are “used” as a commodity—a “Means to an End”.
We have judges who need to be put in prison for Treason. There is no “Right” to infringe on a person’s belief system when it gives dignity and respect to “the Laws of Nature (Truth/Science) and nature’s God (Christian Ethics which founded the Age of Reason. it is embedded in the US Constitution). There is no other “rational” ethic system equivalent to the Christian Ethics, and because of that, Satanism (irrational and evil) can NEVER be promoted in our “government “laws” (which it is now “favored”. All evil laws are “null and void”. Just Law can never promote vice of sodomy or killing (satanic sacrificing) of babies.
Time to drain the swamp of the evil satanic pederasts and put Reason and Logic and Virtue back into our “Justice” (virtue) System. They want to normalize their vice “for the children” to collapse Western Civ (Christianity) and make us all into slaves/collective herd to be culled and herded and controlled—so dumb, not even to understand male/female paradigm which served 7000 years of history-—for transhumanism of J. Huxley.....so evil.
They stand no chance in appealing to the Illinois HRC, and if they’re not careful they’re apt to get hit with a larger penalty just for trying.
If they filed in state court and lost, they could not then file an appeal in a federal district court, but would have to seek appellate remedy in the Illinois Court of Appeals, and if unsuccessful there, seek writs with the Illinois Supreme Court.
They cannot go the a federal appeals court unless they filed the underlying action in federal court.
This is what we get for not fighting for the right of free association.
The idea that the government can tell us that we *must* associate with people we do not wish to associate with is a pernicious, enormous expansion of government power.
It is entirely based on federal law. There is not power in the Constitution to allow the Federal government to force people to associate with those they do not wish to associate with.
Human Rights Commission = Star Chamber
14th Amendment, Section 1: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States [emphasis added]; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
If you are Christian business owner living in Illinois, move. Its the only option.
I would burn the place TO THE GROUND and SET ALL MY CASH ON FIRE rather than pay that fine.
Actually there is a good body of state laws that draw an equivalence between this and the refusal to serve Blacks in your restaurant. Or let them stay in your motel.
I’m not sure if there is precedent in the Federal courts on the matter, but it’s certain the gay lobby and their political supporters intend to act as if it’s decided law.
And I don’t believe the Federal courts have ever made such a decision.
Absolutely sue the bastards
And fire the jerks on the “Commission” If they are not any brighter than to realize Constitutional Rights TRUMP statutory “gay rights” then they are INcompetent to sit on ANY board
Sue their asses off
Liberty Counsel is one that can help.
I’d close the doors first. make your own statement to the bastards.
Except “gay marriage” is a choice. Being black is not.
The equivalence would be if you refused to allow a gay person to sleep at your bed and breakfast. Because it is now “law” that being “gay” is not a choice. (I simply argue that acting as a gay person is a choice, and avoid the problem).
Actually there is a good body of state laws that draw an equivalence between this and the refusal to serve Blacks in your restaurant. Or let them stay in your motel
Exactly. And those state laws all come from anti-discrimination laws at the federal level. I believe it is title VII of the civil rights act of 1964, which simple does away with the right of free association. It should have been ruled unconstitutional under the ninth amendment 50 years ago.
Governments can be forced not to discriminate, because there is no free association in the government. But private businesses and individuals should not. It is the height of tyranny.
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