Posted on 11/17/2017 4:21:12 PM PST by ForYourChildren
“T.J.” and Matt are gay, but they support the Colorado bakery owner fighting a legal battle for his right, on religious grounds, to refuse to make wedding cakes for same-sex couples.
Standing outside the Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado, the bakery at the center of the court case that goes before the Supreme Court on Dec. 5, they explained why they support its owner, Jack Phillips.
“We’re here to buy stuff from him,” Matt said, in a video he and T.J. made for Alliance Defending Freedom, “and support him, because we don’t think any artist should be forced to create for something that violates their beliefs.”
The Scottsdale, Arizona-based Alliance Defending Freedom, a nonprofit legal organization that litigates for religious liberty, will represent Phillips in that Supreme Court hearing in December.
The legal group posted T.J. and Matt’s video on its Facebook page Monday.
A second video, posted Tuesday, features Kristen Waggoner, the ADF lawyer who will represent Phillips at the Supreme Court next month.
Waggoner says in her video that defending Phillips’ case represents defending not just his but everyone else’s right to free expression and free exercise of their religious faith.
“If we want freedom of expression for ourselves,” Waggoner says, “if we want the free exercise of religion for ourselves, then we have to support that right for others, even those we disagree with.
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(Excerpt) Read more at dailysignal.com ...
Interesting acknowledgement.
“..and support him, because we don’t think any artist should be forced to create for something that violates their beliefs.”
I don’t believe the owner objects to homosexuals being customers. They just don’t want to provide a special cake for a ceremony they believe to be wrong.
It should be their right to come to this conclusion and conduct themselves accordingly.
As a Christian I believe homosexuality is wrong. I do not seek to cause them harm or some form of punishment.
I think it’s a credit to these two that they understand the owner and are willing to come to his defense.
I commend these gents for their decency.
Well said. If only everyone were as sensible and logical as those two.
Indeed. The case is not to be seen as a question of Public Accommodation. They will bake cakes for gay people, and for gay couples.
The question is whether they should additionally be forced to decorate such a cake in a way that offers congratulations &c — “forced speech”.
In addition to religious freedom, this can also be looked at another way: Suppose you are a corporate lawyer and specialize in contracts, taxes, etc., and someone came to you asking to defend them in a civil case like assault, robbery, etc. You would say “Sorry. Although it is true that I am a lawyer, I am not experienced in practicing that type of law.” You could also argue that taking on a job which requires experience and insights that you don’t possess could be damaging to your reputation.
The Christian baker is in a similar situation, lacking insight and experience in the gay culture.
It sad that we’re at a point where people are commended for merely not being pieces of garbage. :/
“I don’t believe the owner objects to homosexuals being customers.”
IIRC, they do have homosexual customers, and are happy to have them. As you say, they object to the marriage ceremony.
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