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Order Forcing Christian Baker to Do Sensitivity Training for Gay Clients 'Vague' and 'Lousy'
Christian Post ^ | 06/04/2014 | Leonardo Blair

Posted on 06/04/2014 7:23:55 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

An order handed down by Colorado's Civil Rights Commission on a local Christian baker forcing him to undergo sensitivity training after he refused to bake a cake for a gay wedding citing his faith is "vague," "lousy" and pointless, says his lawyer.

Last Friday, the commission ruled that Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Colorado, could not refuse to bake cakes for gay weddings citing his Christian faith and ordered him to undergo sensitivity training.

In an interview with The Christian Post Wednesday, his lawyer, Nicolle Martin, said the sensitivity training was pointless, because her client does not discriminate against gays, and the order for sensitivity training, which became effective on June 2, cannot be seriously implemented because it is "vague" and "lousy."

"The [sensitivity] training is really for the entire staff and it's for him to conduct training for his staff. It's kind of vague. He just has to report that he's done it. It's very vague," said Martin, who lamented that the haphazard order was as a result of unqualified people sitting on the commission.

"This is the problem where a bunch of lay people are making decisions about someone's livelihood and other people's jobs where the state has decided, has told Mr. Phillips, you don't have any First Amendment rights," explained Martin.

"You must express our message, we are the investigator; we are the prosecutor; we are the judge; we are the jury. And this is what you end up with. A lousy order that is vague and lacking specificity," she added.

When asked why she did not seek clarification from the commission, Martin said she and her client were not allowed to speak.

According to Martin, Phillips is also required to keep a log of every person he refuses service and document the reason why and present that log to the commission on a quarterly basis.

"The order says he must report on any orders — whether it be a cake or a brownie or cookies — turned away and the reason for doing so," said Martin, who explained that the commissioners had, at one point, suggested that Phillips provide a log of every single transaction highlighting the sexual orientation of the customer.

"Even though the commission [had] suggested that he report on every single transaction and whether the customer was gay, the Attorney General reminded the commission that that would be illegal for Jack to ascertain a customer's sexual orientation," said Martin. "Thankfully, the order was clarified to say report quarterly on any celebrations or orders turned away and the basis for doing so."

CP reached out to the commission for comment Wednesday but did not receive a reply at the time of publication.

According to the commission's website, the bipartisan seven-member group of commissioners are citizens of Colorado appointed by Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper and confirmed by the state's Senate to serve voluntary four-year terms.

"They are selected from across the state to represent both political parties. Two represent business (one of whom represents small business), two represent government, and three represent the community at-large. At least four of the members are members of groups of people who have been or who might be discriminated against because of disability, race, creed, color, sex, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, religion or age," the website noted.

The commissioners are Katina Banks (D), chair; Raju Jairam (Un), vice chair; Diann Rice (Un); Marvin Adams (R); Heidi J. Hess (D); Dulce Saenz (Un) and A. Susie Velasquez (D).

CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE VIDEO...


TOPICS: Evangelical Christian; Moral Issues; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: colorado; gaymarriage; homosexualagenda; homosexuality
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1 posted on 06/04/2014 7:23:55 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Leave the state. Go somewhere without re-education camps


2 posted on 06/04/2014 7:25:07 PM PDT by Viennacon
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To: SeekAndFind

What’s next, concentration camps?


3 posted on 06/04/2014 7:27:47 PM PDT by Huskrrrr
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To: Viennacon

That means you have to close down or sell your business... sell your house, uproot your life...

Not as easy as it sounds but it can be done. It really depends on whether this baker values freedom of religion like the Pilgrims of old.

But here’s a question — what if this case becomes a precedent and Obama packs his courts that will one day FEDERALIZE what happened in Colorado?

What next?


4 posted on 06/04/2014 7:28:31 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

If I were him, I would agree to bake the cake and include 2 cups of ground black pepper to the ingredients...see if the judge forces making a “good” cake.


5 posted on 06/04/2014 7:28:55 PM PDT by RS_Rider (I hate Illinois Nazis)
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To: SeekAndFind

I would complete my morning business paperwork with it and send it back to sender.


6 posted on 06/04/2014 7:30:44 PM PDT by diverteach (If I find liberals in heaven after my death.....I WILL BE PISSED!!!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Have the Khmer Rouge taken over Colorado?


7 posted on 06/04/2014 7:31:25 PM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: 1010RD

RE: Have the Khmer Rouge taken over Colorado?

Something like that. And New Mexico as well. And then, coming soon to your state and then the entire country.


8 posted on 06/04/2014 7:32:32 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind
Liberal fascism


9 posted on 06/04/2014 7:34:08 PM PDT by Signalman
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To: SeekAndFind

These Human Rights Commissions are just the Progressive’s Inquisition. The Civil Rights Movement really harmed liberty when they forced people to like other people no matter what. What’s happened to freedom of thought?


10 posted on 06/04/2014 7:35:29 PM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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To: SeekAndFind

Orwell’s 1984


11 posted on 06/04/2014 7:36:28 PM PDT by apocalypto
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To: SeekAndFind

Then some enforcers of this ‘re-education’ get up close and personal with the 2nd Amendment


12 posted on 06/04/2014 7:37:11 PM PDT by Viennacon
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To: SeekAndFind

He ought to leave the state, after selling the business to a baker who just “happens” to be Muslim! ;)


13 posted on 06/04/2014 7:39:28 PM PDT by Frank_2001
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To: SeekAndFind

I’m sorry, I refuse to perform any of these actions under the rights given to me by the constitution. I refuse to perform actions without compensation, I refuse to surrender my freedom of association, I refuse to surrender my right of religious belief and expression. I refuse to follow any gag order as it restricts my freedom of speech. I make marriage cakes for weddings. A marriage is the union of a man and a woman, and my artistry is not subject to the public accommodations act.


14 posted on 06/04/2014 7:39:31 PM PDT by kingu (Everything starts with slashing the size and scope of the federal government.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the Constitution guarantee freedom of association?

No one should have to explain themselves for refusing to associate with anyone.

Many stores post signs saying something along the lines of, “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.”

I hope this baker continues to fight this; it is a dangerous infringement of free speech rights.


15 posted on 06/04/2014 7:40:25 PM PDT by exDemMom (Current visual of the hole the US continues to dig itself into: http://www.usdebtclock.org/)
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To: exDemMom

RE: Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the Constitution guarantee freedom of association?

Well here’s the problem... the courts have made a comparison between not wanting to serve a gay couple because of religious and moral beliefs to not wanting to serve a black man.

You will begin to notice a pattern... when a Christian businessman refuses to help celebrate a lifestyle he considers sinful, it becomes akin to racism.

THAT is the reasoning put forth by the liberal courts.


16 posted on 06/04/2014 7:44:01 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

What would happen if the baker had ignored the commission’s requests ?

What law enforcement powers does the commission have?

What other cases have this commission been involved in?

And what was the outcome?

Did any other people (than this baker) enjoined by the commission ignore the commission?

What happened with those other cases ?


17 posted on 06/04/2014 7:44:37 PM PDT by WildHighlander57 ((WildHighlander57, returning after lurking since 2000)
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To: exDemMom

RE: Many stores post signs saying something along the lines of, “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.”

What if anyone includes black people? Should the law step in?


18 posted on 06/04/2014 7:44:42 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: WildHighlander57

RE: What would happen if the baker had ignored the commission’s requests ?

What law enforcement powers does the commission have?

________________________

I would think a fine, and if they refuse to pay it, jail time.


19 posted on 06/04/2014 7:45:26 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: WildHighlander57

EDIT TO ADD.... a courageous Christian would probably go to jail the same way Peter and Paul did for preaching the gospel.


20 posted on 06/04/2014 7:46:15 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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