Posted on 06/30/2005 6:26:17 PM PDT by wagglebee
A lesbian couple filed a discrimination complaint against a family-run inn because the Roman Catholic owners said they would be reluctant to plan and host a civil union ceremony.
The inn owners, identified only as Jim and Mary, are charged with violating Vermont's Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act.
The complaint by Susan Parker, filed with Vermont's Human Rights Commission, is based on one phone call with Jim.
Jim said he did not refuse Parker's request but explained that because of his beliefs about marriage, he would have difficulty putting his heart behind the project.
The inn owners, who will host seven or eight wedding receptions this year, usually are involved in the entire process of planning the event, acting as a wedding coordinator.
They run the 24-unit facility with their eight children and have their family residence on the same property.
Liberty Counsel, a Florida-based public-interest law firm representing the family, says that for one recent wedding reception, Jim spent about 40 hours with the couple prior to the wedding day.
Liberty Counsel – which filed a response to the charge, asking that it be dismissed – pointed out Jim said that if Parker still desired to hold the reception, he would be willing to meet with her to discuss possible arrangements.
The law firm argues there must be an exemption to the discrimination charge based on the free exercise of religion, free association and the right of parents to direct the upbringing of their children.
Commenting on the case, Mathew D. Staver, president and general counsel of Liberty Counsel, said it "seeks to authorize the government to become thought police."
"This case also illustrates the radical nature of the same-sex agenda – to target a family-owned inn based upon one telephone call wherein the operator clearly admits that he could not put his heart into a same-sex civil union ceremony," he said. "Forget tolerance – this case is about forcing others to endorse same-sex unions."
Vermont's Human Rights Commission only has legal authority to investigate complaints, negotiate settlements and bring action in court. If illegal discrimination is proven to a judge and jury, the court can impose fines or monetary damages.
In 1994, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that a Roman Catholic owner of a printing company could assert, as a defense to a claim of discrimination, that printing "pro-choice" flyers would cause the owner to violate his sincerely held religious beliefs.
If this succeeds, they will be filing lawsuits against churches next.
Catholic ping.
Homosexual agenda ping.
If this succeeds, they will be filing lawsuits against churches next.
This is a setup. The churches will certainly be next and since we now have a "living breathing Constitution" we will soon lose the ability to have any anti PC Biblical preaching...something like Canada.
You think not? Just wait.
private business ping
Of course Senator Schumer thinks these should disqualify someone from the judiciary.
If the courts can tell us that it is alright for the government to take property for any reason whatsoever, it's not a far stretch to see them telling churches that they can't restrict any "religious" ceremony that the leftists desire.
How strange that of all the inns in Vermont, the happy couple chose one run by an RC family...
Vermont is full of inns that cater to the gay/lesbian crowd. They couldn't have chosen one of these?:
http://www.purpleroofs.com/usa/vermont/vermontregion.html
"How strange that of all the inns in Vermont, the happy couple chose one run by an RC family... Vermont is full of inns that cater to the gay/lesbian crowd. They couldn't have chosen one of these?"
Pure coincidence, ya know.... don't imagine that some vicious leftist activists are targeting one RC family as a test case.... no one on the left would seek to crush the free religious beliefs of anyone or freedom of association, would they? /sarcasm
This is the queen of setups!!!
I hope this family sues for harrassment.
ping ping
**owners, identified only as Jim and Mary**
God bless Jim and Mary and may God bless them abundantly and walk with them through this turmoil.
Does the Vermont legislature being in session not already qualify as a perpetual lawsuit against churches ?
These don't exist in the minds of the left.
Unfortunately, much sooner than later.
Unfortunately, much sooner than later
Within the next five years. These Nazis will take the country without a shot fired. Our citizens will be cowed. just watch.
Up here in queerville, print shop owners have had 'human rights' violations' thrown at them by the 'human rights tribunal'(HRT) for refusing to print explicit queer material. The fines are enough tot force the shutdown of some these stores.
Same with bed and breakfast establishments. HRT rules that if you don't let the queers stay, no one can stay..so the B+Es shutdown.
I hate to say it, but all this kind of BS is on the horizon down in the US. It will take a Herculean effort to stop it.
Up here in queerville, print shop owners have had 'human rights' violations' thrown at them by the 'human rights tribunal'(HRT) for refusing to print explicit queer material. The fines are enough tot force the shutdown of some these stores.
This is the Homosexual Taliban.
This is our future.
You think not? Just wait.
If that happens, that would be the time for churches to leave the Mega-Corporation model and return to the model presented in the New Testament, which is of small, loosely affiliated cell groups meeting in homes and mixing only with other like-minded, Christian cell groups.
Impenitent, lezbo dikes taking over in my home/church?
I do think NOT!
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