Appeals court rules that Jack Phillips, a Christian Colorado baker must make wedding cakes for gay couples and he as well as his staff, including his 88 year old mother must take re-education courses. Re-education courses??? What country are we living in?
Jack Phillips a devout Christian who honors God through his baking,
had argued that he could not participate in same-sex ceremonies because it
would violate his religious beliefs. The appeals court ruled otherwise.
“By selling a wedding cake to a same-sex couple, Masterpiece
does not necessarily lead an observer to conclude that the bakery supports its
customer’s conduct,” the court wrote in its ruling.
Alliance Defending Freedom, a law firm that specializes in
religious liberty cases, represented Phillips. They argue that the court is
denying their client his fundamental freedoms.
“Jack simply exercised the long-cherished American freedom
to decline to use his artistic talents to promote a message with which he
disagrees,” ADF attorney Jeremy Tedesco said. “Government has a duty to protect
people’s freedom to follow their beliefs personally and professionally rather
than force them to adopt the government’s views.”
I spoke to Jack on Thursday just moments after the court
ruling was handed down. He remains steadfast in his Christian faith.
“The court’s ruling is not fair,” he said. “It shows that some
people have more equal rights than others. When you’re not in line with the
same-sex agenda, you don’t have as much equal rights.”
As it stands – Jack will be required by the government to
make wedding cakes for same-sex couples. If he denies anyone service, he will
be required to explain why. He is also expected to retrain his staff in the
state’s anti-discrimination policies – including his 88-year-old mother.
It sounds like the government wants to round up Phillips and
his staff and haul them to a reeducation camp – where they can be purged of the
religious beliefs that offend the LGBT community.
“My mom is on my staff and she said she will not be
retrained,” he defiantly said. “And I’m not going to make same-sex wedding
cakes.”