Posted on 11/29/2013 6:34:00 AM PST by NYer
LONDON, November 28, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Peter and Hazelmary Bull, the Christian hoteliers fined for refusing a single room to two homosexual men in September 2008, have lost their appeal to the UK’s Supreme Court, with the court ruling that their company policy was “discriminatory.”
Despite the fact that the couple proved that their policy applied equally to any unmarried couples, and not just homosexuals, all five judges ruled the Bulls’ policy to be a case of illegal discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, and dismissed their appeal. Two of the judges said the discrimination was “indirect,” but unjustified.
The elderly couple said they were “deeply disappointed and saddened” at the decision that has “reinforced the notion that gay rights must trump everything else.”
They have said that they have been the victims of an ongoing hate campaign, including threats and abusive phone calls and emails, vandalism of their home and car. The Christian Institute reports that wheel nuts were removed from the couple’s car “and recently a dead rabbit was nailed to their fence”. The website of the business was recently hacked and replaced with pornography.
Mrs. Bull told the Christian Institute in September that they had no choice but to sell their business, having gone hungry and without heating last winter in their struggle to make mortgage payments.
“We’re just ordinary Christians who believe in the importance of marriage as the union of one man and one woman,” Mrs. Bull said in a statement after the verdict.
“Britain ought to be a country of freedom and tolerance, but it seems religious beliefs must play second fiddle to the new orthodoxy of political correctness,” she added. “Somehow, we have got to find a way of allowing different beliefs to coexist in our society.”
The Supreme Court deputy president, Lady Hale, said the Bulls are free to “manifest their religion” but by refusing to allow homosexual men to share a double bed in their establishment, they were breaking the law.
In what has been called the first national test case of the Equality Act’s Sexual Orientation Regulations (SOR) for Christians who hold traditional sexual moral beliefs, the Bulls have lost in every court, starting with the Bristol Crown Court in January 2011.
Moreover, Judge Andrew Rutherford declared in the Bristol Crown Court ruling that in law there is no discernable difference between civil partnership and marriage, a ruling which later helped to pass the Conservative government’s “gay marriage” act.
The legal action has had a huge impact on the Bulls’ lives. In addition to being fined £3,600 for the “hurt and embarrassment” felt by the complainants, Martyn Hall and Steven Preddy, the Bulls were ordered to pay the latter’s legal expenses.
The Bulls have failed in their efforts to find a way to continue their business enterprise while living their beliefs. The Government’s tourism board for England struck the Bulls’ B&B off their approved list of guesthouses and homosexualist groups and publications have enacted a boycott.
They tried to turn their guesthouse into a non-profit, Christian-only retreat centre, but have recently announced that their legal fight has been so costly they have no choice but to sell their home. They have operated their business for 25 years and have always made their policy known to guests.
Hazelmary Bull has described their situation as exemplifying the ongoing marginalization of Christianity in Britain. With these kinds of rulings, she said, it is clear that “some people are more equal than others.”
Mrs. Bull told the Christian Institute in September, that they came to the decision to sell as “a gradual process”. “We just noticed more and more that we couldn’t make the mortgage repayments” she said.
“Last winter was terrible. We were actually shivering and were hungry. We are coming towards next winter and dreading it. In 2013, two people who worked all their lives at this have ended up cold and hungry. It’s not right.”
She described the loss of their home and business as being like a “death in the family”. “I never thought it would end like this. We are not facing the future with any real enthusiasm.”
Won’t be 2 years with the judges being implanted by this administration now that the filibuster rules are gone.
This is where the homosexual agenda is heading. They want to outlaw Christianity and sue everything that wants to uphold morality.
Pray America is Waking
You wont be missed.
Judge Rules In Favor of Lesbians Suing Hawaii B&B
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3008294/posts
Yeah, not just yet.
The UK judiciary obviously hates freedom. Hates it.
God’s kingdom is growing in China, Africa, and other parts of the world.
We in the West may wander from the Lord Almighty, so He will find others to carry on His work.
Vt. B&B settles lawsuit with gay couple [Vermont-2012-Wildflower Inn]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2964890/posts
How about charging a “cleaning” fee? On a recent stay in SC, the room policy was no smoking, and subject to a $1,000 room cleaning fee if in violation.
“You wont be missed.”
That’s “won’t be missed”.
I knew that any criticism of UK would get your attention, Scotty. And it’s not even about guns this time. Just a poor couple having their rights and livelihood trampled by the Gay Gestapo who along with the `beard & burka’ crowd seem to be in the driver’s seat in UK.
On that topic, what do you think of Stacey Dooley? A wee bit of a brave lass, is she not? Cheerio!
;^)
“Wont be 2 years with the judges being implanted by this administration now that the filibuster rules are gone.”
Yep, you’ve got it.
McConnell blinked, the GOP blew it, and now Obama gets to appoint nearly one hundred new leftist federal judges. Well done, Mitch.
People need to start burning down their business as they leave them, instead of selling them.
As God tells us in the Bible and as Jesus said when He was here on earth, before — things will grow worse and worse before Jesus returns to earth again, to set up His Kingdom on earth, over all the nations. As Jesus said ... things will be like in the days of Noah, when judgement came. Judgement comes again when Jesus forcefully, violently and dramatically installs His government over all the world.
Between now and then, things won’t get better but much worse.
God tells us in Romans, Chapter 1 ...
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Once again, religious rights are being trampled. Nothing greater then Uberstate shall be permitted.
Across the pond, but not really a whole lot of distance from the Obama nation.
Only those who let the beast system define and debase their value system will be allowed to work (and by extention, buy and sell). Prostrate to the beast, and "live" (or else).
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The beast system has become the supreme lawgiver of the land. No longer accountable to a Higher Authority... it has outright usurped the throne of El Shaddai - the Almighty - and has anointed itself as the ultimate authority.
Too many agree with this scheme because the concept and reality of the God of Abraham is loathesome and inconvenient to them. The beast.god gives them free stuff, and silences and destroys their ideological opponents. So what’s not to love?
Meanwhile, those who worship the “old” God and therefore refuse to worship THUG.god as the supreme being are being made to pay. First with their livelihoods, then with their lives.
Notice that when the beast system decides that x, y, or z depravity is now “legal”, it demands that the perversion is accepted and embraced by normal (truly law-abiding) society. We are all expected to instantly lower our own core values and behavior to be in compliance with the new dictat. If government says we need to smile, we’d better smile. Or lose weight. Or stop smoking. Or recycle.
Government had become arrogant through the blind faith of its followers that no wonder it sees fit to control by force the moral foundation of every citizen. It never did care for competition.
Me sloopy writer un here, ye shud know thit be noooo.
Yes, I react to criticism of the UK, why shouldn’t I, I AM British.
I think the couple have been treated appallingly and I agree with everyone here. BUT what I wont accept is people making sneering comment about how my country is worthless.
Yes, I watch the young lady on the BBC, her programmes appear by and large on BBC3, which is one of the BBC’s satellite/cable channels, which is a channel aimed at the 16-30 age group. A mix of sitcom, comedy, drama, sport and documentaries.
Finally, I would point out that Britain, for all its faults, is still a fine country, the British a fine people, and you should come over. We would, I would, welcome you.
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