Posted on 04/07/2014 12:04:02 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Gay rights trump religious rights.
That’s the rule of law in New Mexico after the U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to consider whether a wedding photographer was within her rights when she refused to film a gay couple’s commitment ceremony.
The high court’s decision not to hear the case lets stand a New Mexico Supreme Court decision that the owners of Elane Photography violated the state’s anti-discrimination laws.
As one New Mexico justice ominously noted, Jonathan and Elaine Huguenin “are compelled by law to compromise the very religious beliefs that inspire their lives.”
The state’s demand that the Huguenins disobey their religious beliefs and photograph the ceremony is “the price of citizenship,” a justice wrote.
I write extensively about the Huguenins in my upcoming book, “God Less America.”
The Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the case sends a chilling message to Americans who oppose gay marriage, said Jordan Lorence, an Alliance Defending Freedom attorney who represents the Huguenins.
“It is disconcerting because the (state) decision was so harsh that this small company can now be forced by state anti-discrimination laws to create messages that they don’t agree with,” he told me. “This new authoritarianism – forcing people to bow the knee to a new orthodoxy or they be punished – is very chilling.”
In 2006 Elaine Huguenin received an email from Vanessa Willock asking her to photograph a “commitment ceremony” between Willock and her same-sex partner. Huguenin declined because the event would have been at odds with her deep convictions, Lorence said.
She had previously declined to photograph other events, including nude photography sessions.
The lesbian couple found a lower-priced photographer to shoot their ceremony, but they nonetheless filed a complaint with the New Mexico Human Rights Commission. The ensuing legal battle became one of the first major cases to explore the collision of gay rights and the First Amendment rights of business owners.
“When people say things like gay rights trump religious rights, what they are saying is the government can force people to believe a certain way – and that is something that in a free society should not be tolerated,” Lorence said.
The idea that gay rights take precedence over everyone else’s rights was recently manifested in the forced resignation of Mozilla co-founder Brendan Eich, who came under fire from the gay rights community after it was revealed he had donated money to California’s Prop 8 initiative.
“We are now going to see more situations where people are going to be forced to choose between what they believe about marriage – and their job or their business,” Lorence told me.
“What concerns me is there will be an effort to expand these types of hunting down people with wrong opinions. I don’t know how far this can go.”
I know exactly how far this can go.
I believe militant gay rights groups will start targeting churches that own fellowship halls. I believe they will start targeting pastors who preach against homosexuality. And I believe they will go after individuals who attend those kinds of churches.
Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) was among those shocked by the Supreme Court’s inaction. He said every American should be concerned.
“The ability to speak freely and live according to our beliefs is the prize, not the price, of citizenship,” the congressman said. “And we all have a stake in protecting it.”
It’s not out of the realm of possibility that one day Americans could be forced to answer this question: Do you know or have you ever been a member of a church that opposes gay marriage?
The religious cleansing of America has begun.
Now, the photographer is being forced to provide services involuntarily: that is the essence of involuntary servitude,One must, at some times, lose a battle or two to win the war.
Did you SEE those pictures?
They are HORRIBLE!
We'll NEVER recommend that guy to ANY of OUR friends!
(Col 3:12-17; 22-25)Now, my friend, can you honestly say that your advice is in harmony with the word of God?
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. […] Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters, since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong has been done, and there is no partiality.
(Matt 5:10-12; 33-42)
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
The historical standard is for the supreme court to allow cases to work their way through the federal court system before taking a case. This denial or certiorari does not mean a refusal to consider the case ever - but is more likely a refusal to consider the case from a federal level before any other federal court considers it.
Yes, the state constitution protect their right to refuse service because of their religious beliefs — thanks for pointing that out. The state court obviously has no regard for their own law and someone should look into how those judges can be impeached.
My own family cannot come to our house because my homosexual son and his latest queer lover don’t get along with anybody and they try playing the freaking pity party Gay card You never believe me because you don’t like the fact that I’m Gay —BullShit. My son is my son he will either repent of his sin or die in his Sin.I told them to get their own house so THEY can be Happy. all I ever asked was that they NOT do drugs—but they have. Here. That they respect my house—they have not.
Sorry to hear of your situation. Hope the prodigal son repents and comes back.
Matthew 10:16
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mark 3:27
In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house.
Are you an Open Borders person?
The word of GOD says...
Fraud — taking monies for services not provided — is hardly harmless
.
Nope.
The word of GOD says...
The word of God, you mean Him speaking to people, namely those following Him?
I don't see how that should be the basis for government.
state court judges are appointed or elected. appellate judges are appointed and then go through sham merit retention elections.
it is very very very very rare for a sitting judge to have another attorney challenge them (sane one at least) or lose a merit election.
Did I say adultery, bestiality and fornication were good? PLEASE don't put words in my mouth. You KNOW better than that. Shame on you.
Talk about judging...you MIGHT have been one of those who WOULD have thrown that first stone...
.
“Did I say adultery, bestiality and fornication were good? PLEASE don’t put words in my mouth. “
Did I say you said those things? Did I put quote marks around them? Nope. So stop hyperventilating. You DID write:
” My father once said “Where there’s love there is good.” My father RARELY said stuff like that. But he was right.”
Your father was NOT right. He was a fool. “Love” does not make things right. “Love” is often wrong. When a deacon in a Baptist church I was in decided he “loved” a 20 year old choir girl and not his wife, did his “love” make it right? I think not.
We did not stone the unrepentant deacon, but neither was he allowed to remain a member in the church.
“Love” does not making sticking your penis in another man’s butt a good or admirable thing. Sorry. If you lack that much judgment, then you might ask for help in crossing streets...
Homosexual individuals commiting perverted actions against young boys at a rate condiderably less than within protestant clergy, teachers, and the scouts.....keep your inane comments in perspective pleaee.
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