Posted on 08/13/2015 1:12:31 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
A state appeals court in Colorado ruled Thursday that a baker could not cite religious beliefs in refusing to make wedding cakes for same-sex couples.
The decision is the latest in a series of similar rulings across the country that have been cheered by civil rights groups but attacked by conservative Christians as assaults on religious liberty.
Whether photographers, florists, bakers and other vendors who are Christians should have a right to refuse services for same-sex marriages has emerged as a major cultural and legal battle, one that has intensified since the Supreme Court decision in June establishing same-sex marriage as a constitutional right.
In the Colorado case, “the court squarely said that this is discrimination based on sexual orientation and it’s not to be tolerated, even if it’s motivated by faith,” said Louise Melling, deputy legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, which represented the gay couple. “Religious liberty gives you the right to your beliefs but not the right to harm others.”
But lawyers for the cake shop said the appeals panel “got it wrong” and that they would probably appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court.
“Our client did not engage in sexual-orientation discrimination,” said Jeremy Tedesco, a senior lawyer with Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal group based in Arizona. He argued that an objection to same-sex marriage was not the same as discriminating against a gay person and noted that the baker, Jack Phillips, of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colo., also refused to make cakes celebrating Halloween because he associates the holiday with Satan.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Stop calling stalinists “civil rights groups”.
“Religious liberty gives you the right to your beliefs but not the right to harm others.”
Yea... right.
Tell that to the “peaceful” moose-limbs and see how far that will get you.
Wake up America.
This whole thing just makes my blood boil, Jack has been my cake maker for over 15 years. He is incredibly talented. His cakes are truly works of art. His daughter who works with him is terrific too! Jack is closed on Sundays, he will not make cakes with ghoulish themes on Halloweens and has always presented his beliefs and values with kindness and truth. I have to believe that Jack will come out of this with his head up and values intact..and I’m putting my money (& my waistline) behind Jack and supporting him at every opportunity.
All they gotta say is they are booked up and they do not have production time available. And of course there is the problem of broken down equipment. These owners of these shops need to learn how to play the game.
““Bake the cake!””
And add some “special sauce!”
They should bake the cake - with a significant amount of laxative in it.
“You do not have to do business with anyone you do not want to have any transactions with.”
Not a legally accurate statement. I suggest reading the Civil Rights Act, and then the state variations. Freedom of association was a valued right until 1965.
Got Aids Yet?
GAY?
"Even D Trump can’t change this<><><><
Dont tell him that. He’ll post a nasty tweet."
He could however, hit it out of the park right now if when some news reportette asks him: "Mr. Trump. What would you as President do about people that refuse to bake a cake for gay people?"
'Well I'll tell you Megyn, I can make this promise to the American people. Unlike the current White House occupant, when I am President I will order the Justice Department to prosecute and imprison any public official who violates a citizen's Constitutional Rights, and that includes the First and Second and all Amendments to the Constitution, and all Federal Laws. Give me a list of the names of these officials attacking the bakers and I promise I *will* get back to them in January 2017.'
Just the words alone will alter their current unconstitutional behavior. Once they rack up a few scalps in Leavenworth then the tide will turn.
Some things are not really that difficult. And there is no need to wait two years for the inevitable 9-0 ruling in favor of the bakers. First Amendment Speech *and* Religion violated by a *Government* Official is a slam dunk.
Seems the Colorado supreme court doesn’t believe in the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights.
"Seems the Colorado supreme court doesn’t believe in the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights."
Unquestionably. That one goes down unless the Supreme Court has gone fully insane.
But the guy in Kentucky with marriage licenses is not gonna make it. Public officials routinely check Constitutional rights at the door, most obviously the First Amendment if you deal with secrets, and the Second Amendment wherever you may be. It's possible he prevails but I doubt it.
P.S. wastedyears == this?
How can you be harmed if someone won’t bake you a wedding cake (re the ACLU’s assine statement)?
Gee, my feelings are hurt. I’m gonna eat worms.
Oh spare me the drama, queens!
Find another baker. They would love to have more work and everybody gets what they want without a body-count.
I’d have made the cake for them....I’d have done it right, but I would make enough suggestive hints that they would have never eaten the cake and would never come to my store again....and I would have done it with a big smile on my face.....do not force me to do ANYTHING...
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