Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
Christian business owners who oppose the profaning of marriage and the deviant lifestyle associated with it are penalized for their faith. Although this infringement doesn’t compare to Christian persecution around the world, it’s a violation nonetheless.
Subway or even a Christian establishment refusing to make a homosexual a sandwich is one thing. But it’s something else entirely when a Christian refuses to aid and abet homosexuals in “marrying.”
Christians who’ve done so face fines and re-education “sensitivity training” camps. Jack Philips, Christian owner of the Masterpiece Cakeshop, declined to make a cake for two men for their “wedding.” A court ordered him to undergo re-education.
Christian photographer Elaine Huguenin declined to take photos at a lesbian “commitment ceremony.” A court rejected her religious freedom claim and held that she violated the law.
Christian News reports that two Christian bakery owners face bankruptcy if the government enforces a fine of over $150,000 after they refused to participate in the mockery of marriage and bake a cake for a lesbian “wedding.”
“My first question was what’s the wedding date,” Klein told television station KTW in Portland. “My next question was [the] bride and groom’s name. … The girl giggled a little bit and said, ‘It’s two brides.’”
He stated that he then informed the women that the bakery does not make cakes for homosexual events.
The women then left Sweet Cakes upset about the incident, and later, one of them filed a complaint with the state. The Oregon Attorney General’s office soon launched an investigation against the Klein’s as the state’s non-discrimination laws prevent public accommodations from being denied to any individual on the basis of “race, color, religion, sex [or] sexual orientation.”
But Klein states that he regularly serves homosexuals. He believes that there is a difference between serving homosexuals in general, and having to personally facilitate same-sex ceremonies, which is an act of participation.
Shameful. If I were a wagering woman, I’d bet the people who asked for a cake and photos knew the owners were Christians and likely would have objections to servicing a homosexual “wedding” and helping people celebrate what God calls an abomination. These and other homosexuals could have gone to any other baker or photographer. Did they seek out people who opposed their lifestyle in order to sue?
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
What recourse do Christians have? Continue to invoke your First Amendment religious freedom protection and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and contact organizations like the Alliance Defending Freedom. And keep spreading the Good News.
