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A Way Out for Christian Wedding Businesses?
Townhall.com ^ | April 17, 2015 | Brent Bozell

Posted on 04/17/2015 10:14:44 AM PDT by Kaslin

Radical activists in the gay community have put pedal to the metal to force gay acceptance from Christians -- making not only their position but also their tactics anti-Christian. They are deliberately targeting the Christian wedding industry -- the cakemakers, the caterers, the quaint bed-and-breakfast owners, and the like. They are headhunting Christians who refuse their business on moral grounds by slapping them with lawsuits or "human rights" complaints.

Fascists would appreciate these tactics.

Everyone witnessed the national shaming and death threats that came to Memories Pizza in Walkerton, Indiana, because the owners declined to cater a gay "wedding" -- while stating effusively that they never had, nor would they ever consider turning away gay customers. It needs to be underscored that the owners never even received a catering request. They were simply asked their opinions and that's all the Thought Police needed. There are other less publicized examples of real trouble.

Barronelle Stutzman, owner of Arlene's Flowers in Richland, Washington, was sued -- by a regular customer -- for refusing to provide her services for his gay marriage. The state's attorney general pressed her to settle for a $1,000 fine and a promise she would perpetually violate her conscience and fulfill all gay marriage requests in the future. There were other florists -- Stutzman even offered a referral to someone else -- but this wasn't about flowers. It was about silencing Christian opposition.

A textbook case of left-wing entrapment came with Robert and Cynthia Gifford, owners of an inn near Albany, New York. A lesbian activist called to request a gay marriage at the inn, and she recorded the phone call. When Gifford said no, the activist filed a complaint with the blue state's "Human Rights" bureaucrats. The Giffords were fined $13,000 -- including $3,000 to the lesbian activist couple for their "mental anguish."

There are other examples around the country. In the days to come there will be many more. This is orchestrated, and vicious.

What are Christians to do?

Enter Father John Zuhlsdorf, a priest and blogger in Madison, Wisconsin. He has arrived at a solution for all these lawsuits that could turn the issue completely on its head. He counsels a big Yes for any gay-wedding requests, with a few promises written into the contract (with Catholic touches in this example).

Tell them that the food and services will be just fine. "And then inform them that all of the money that they pay for the services will be donated to a traditional pro-family lobby. If it is something like catering, where your employees have to be there to provide services, tell them that all your people will smile, be professional, and every one of them will be wearing crucifixes and have the Holy Family embroidered on their uniforms. Then show them pictures of your uniforms. When the truck pulls up, speakers will be playing 'Immaculate Mary.' Show them the truck and play the music."

If they're appalled, then say, "Oh, you would be offended by that? I'm so sorry. You approached us because we are Christians. Right? We are happy to provide services for you and we are grateful that you chose to come to our Christian catering business. We just want to be of help.

"Then tell them that you will take out an ad in the paper to let everyone know what you did with their money, thanking them by name for their business so that you could make the contribution."

No one is refused service or suffers "discrimination" in this scenario, and the caterer's conscience is intact. Leftist lawyers and judges don't get to levy fines. But if gay couples want to force their lifestyle on others, it naturally follows that religious believers should push their beliefs more elaborately as well.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: christians; gaymarriage; homosexualagenda; religiousfreedom; ssm; wedding
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1 posted on 04/17/2015 10:14:44 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

I like this.


2 posted on 04/17/2015 10:16:14 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (My Batting Average( 1,000) (GOPe is that easy to read))
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To: Kaslin

100% dittos.


3 posted on 04/17/2015 10:17:19 AM PDT by George from New England (escaped CT in 2006, now living north of Tampa)
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To: Kaslin

Brilliant.


4 posted on 04/17/2015 10:19:31 AM PDT by Politicalkiddo ("It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." Frederick Douglass)
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To: Kaslin

5 posted on 04/17/2015 10:19:32 AM PDT by jsanders2001
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To: Kaslin

Poisoning the well with rightousness!

I LOVE IT!


6 posted on 04/17/2015 10:23:39 AM PDT by GraceG (Protect the Border from Illegal Aliens, Don't Protect Illegal Alien Boarders...)
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To: stephenjohnbanker

It’s cute and catchy, but it’s not a real solution. A business should be able to serve who they want, and it’s not the government’s business. Government should butt out. If the business is wacko it’ll go out of business.


7 posted on 04/17/2015 10:24:13 AM PDT by xzins (Donate to the Freep-a-Thon or lose your ONLY voice. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Kaslin

That works as a last resort.

But we need to work to get the laws in place that nobody should ever have to participate in a religious ceremony, quasi-religious ceremony, or mockery of a religious ceremony that they object to by virtue of having offered business services to the public.

And as far as the bread and breakfast scenario, you’d probably have to have a clear definition of what is a bread and breakfast vs a hotel. With a bread and breakfast being provided more protections than a hotel.


8 posted on 04/17/2015 10:25:31 AM PDT by DannyTN
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To: Kaslin

Yes! Great strategy!


9 posted on 04/17/2015 10:25:41 AM PDT by Red_Devil 232 ((VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!))
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To: Kaslin

It’s the perfect solution.


10 posted on 04/17/2015 10:25:57 AM PDT by LauraJean (sometimes I win sometimes I donate to the equine benevolent society)
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To: Kaslin
Would they get in trouble for only donating proceeds from gay marriages? It might be simpler and less easy to object to if they advertised and made clear that for every wedding they cater (or bake a cake for or provide flowers for or whatever) a donation is being made IN THEIR NAME to a pro-family organization.

And don't say anything about wearing crucifixes or rosary bracelets or whatever. JUST DO IT. Then if the happy couple objected to what the servers wore they'd be violating their rights.

Keep it simple. Turn it around.

11 posted on 04/17/2015 10:26:08 AM PDT by grania
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To: Kaslin

That’s going to do absolutely nothing ... they’ll be laughing at all the money that the owner is not getting and having to service them anyway!


12 posted on 04/17/2015 10:27:16 AM PDT by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: Kaslin

A great way to ‘turn the other cheek’ (double entenendre intended) on gay terrorist activists in America.


13 posted on 04/17/2015 10:27:33 AM PDT by RideForever
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To: Kaslin

I keep seeing this described as a viable option, but how does the business prevent being ruined financially by a long stream of such requests? Give the homofascists a way to destroy you, and they surely will.

Also, the “shaming” publicly, by name, of the homofascists will end up in court, and the business will lose, unless the homofascists agree to it in the contract.

This idea treats the symptom - but does not deter the disease that will kill the patient before long.


14 posted on 04/17/2015 10:28:31 AM PDT by MortMan (All those in favor of gun control raise both hands!)
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To: xzins

” It’s cute and catchy, but it’s not a real solution. “

No solution at all, but it would be interesting to try a few times.


15 posted on 04/17/2015 10:29:32 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (My Batting Average( 1,000) (GOPe is that easy to read))
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To: xzins
It’s cute and catchy, but it’s not a real solution. A business should be able to serve who they want, and it’s not the government’s business.

Right! It doesn't indict, try, convict, and sentence the traitorous officials in the government.

16 posted on 04/17/2015 10:35:02 AM PDT by Carl Vehse
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To: Kaslin

**And then inform them that all of the money that they pay for the services will be donated to a traditional pro-family lobby.**

Nope.

The party requesting services has to pay for said services by sending a check to a traditional pro-family lobby. Make THEM write the check. Put it in the contract.


17 posted on 04/17/2015 10:35:09 AM PDT by Gamecock (Why do bad things happen to good people? That only happened once, and He volunteered. R.C. Sproul)
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To: xzins

“It’s cute and catchy, but it’s not a real solution. A business should be able to serve who they want, and it’s not the government’s business. Government should butt out. If the business is wacko it’ll go out of business.”

The 1964 Civil Rights Act just keeps on giving.


18 posted on 04/17/2015 10:36:54 AM PDT by Pelham (The refusal to deport is defacto amnesty)
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To: grania

I like your approach. The gay community lives to rub conservative’s faces in their “gay rights”. Let them think they’re winning then stick it to them. If nothing else, anyone serious about their vows won’t want Christians front and center so it might deter them.


19 posted on 04/17/2015 10:38:45 AM PDT by Kenny (,)
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To: MortMan

It’s not shaming gays to publish their names as donors.

It doesn’t have to be the full profit, just a portion.


20 posted on 04/17/2015 10:40:35 AM PDT by Kenny (,)
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