Colorado Baker Case Latest Defeat for Religious Liberty…(And Property Rights!!)
by Steve Byas
TheNewAmerican.com
Wednesday, 19 August 2015
The Colorado Court of Appeals has handed the concept of religious liberty for individuals yet another defeat, with its August 13 ruling against suburban Denver baker Jack Phillips (shown). The appellate court upheld a lower court ruling that the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop had illegally discriminated against two homosexual men by refusing to bake a cake to celebrate their “marriage.”
The two men, Charlie Craig and David Mullins, had filed a complaint with the aid of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), citing Colorado’s anti-discrimination law. Phillips told them that to accede to their wishes would violate his religious beliefs.
When the two men ordered the cake in 2012, Colorado did not recognize same-sex marriage; however, the court held that the refusal by Phillips to bake the cake ran afoul of the state’s law which prohibits discrimination based upon “sexual orientation.”
In a 66-page ruling, the appellate court dismissed the argument by Phillips that being required to bake a cake to celebrate a same-sex wedding violated his right to freedom of religion and free speech, contending that a requirement for someone to follow the anti-discrimination law is not forcing him to “endorse” the marriage of the two men.
The court opined, “Masterpiece remains free to continue espousing its religious beliefs, including its opposition to same-sex marriage.”
The Rest…HERE
