Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
Last December we covered the story of a Christian florist who stands to lose her flower shop, her home, and her life savings for refusing to provide services for a homosexual “wedding.”
Represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), Barronelle Stutzman didn’t want to go against the teachings of the faith by contributing to a ceremony that makes a mockery of marriage and God.
The person who sued Stutzman was a long-time customer, so he must have known she was a Christian opposed to approving or celebrating what the God of the Bible calls an abomination. But then that was probably the point — to make an in-your-face example of her and demonstrate that homosexuals now have special rights above the rest. Ironically, religious freedom is part of the U.S. Constitution; special rights for individuals based on who they sleep with are not.
The ADF reports that a judge ruled Stutzman discriminated against the homosexual who sued. An excerpt:
In State of Washington v. Arlene’s Flowers, Benton County Superior Court Judge Alexander Ekstrom ruled on Jan. 7 that Stutzman was personally liable for the claims against her, placing both her personal and professional livelihood in jeopardy. Ekstrom then granted summary judgment Wednesday [PDF] against both Stutzman and her business; therefore, the case will not proceed to trial. ADF attorneys will appeal the rulings…Ekstrom concluded that Stutzman must provide full wedding support for same-sex ceremonies, including custom design work to decorate the ceremony, delivery to the forum, staying at the ceremony to touch up arrangements, and assisting the wedding party.
In addition to going after Stutzman’s business, the state and the homosexuals could go after her personally for damages and attorneys’ fees.
ADF attorney Kristen Waggoner said, “The message of these rulings is unmistakable: the government will bring about your personal and professional ruin if you don’t help celebrate same-sex marriage. Laws that are supposed to prohibit discrimination might sound good, but the government has begun to use these laws to hurt people—to force them to conform and to silence and punish them if they don’t violate their religious beliefs on marriage.”
This country needs more small business owners, not fewer. Such rulings, and the entire homosexual lobby, aided and abetted by the government we fund, will stand as a disincentive for religious business owners.
“I just want the freedom to live and work faithfully and according to what God says about marriage without fear of punishment,” Stutzman said. “Others have the freedom to say or not say what they want to about marriage, and that’s all I’m asking for as well.”
Unfortunately, the more permissive and deviant society becomes, the worse it will be for all Christians. We’re in for a battle. Fortunately, we know Who has already won the war.
