Jack Phillips
Posted on 06/05/2014 4:05:24 PM PDT by NYer
Jack Phillips
A Colorado bakery owned by a Christian family is refusing to comply with orders from the state of Colorado that they change their policies and attend mandatory “training sessions” after refusing to bake wedding cakes for same-sex couples.
Todd Starnes of Fox News is reporting that Jack Phillips, owner of the Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado, is being pressured by the state to undergo comprehensive training on the state’s anti-discrimination laws after losing a lawsuit brought by a same-sex couple who accused him of discrimination when he refused to bake a cake for their “wedding” reception.
In addition to the training sessions, which he and his staff must undergo, Phillips will also be required to submit quarterly reports for the next two years to the state’s Civil Rights Commission in order to confirm that he is not turning away customers based on their sexual orientation.
“They are turning people of faith into religious refugees. … Is this the society that we want to live in – where people of faith are driven out of business?” asks Nicolle Martin, an attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom who is defending Phillips.
Martin was clearly appalled at the ruling’s Orwellian requirements.
“There will be some reporting requirements so that Jack can demonstrate that he doesn’t exercise his belief system anymore – that he has divested himself of his beliefs,” she said. “We consider this reporting to be aimed at rehabilitating Jack so that he has the right thoughts. That’s offensive to everything America stands for.”
The ruling is even more outrageous when one considers that same-sex marriage isn’t even legal in Colorado!
Meanwhile, Phillips told Starnes he has no intention of changing any of his policies.
“My old ones are pretty adequate as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “I don’t plan on giving up my faith and changing because of that.”
Phillips, who has been in business for 40 years, isn’t worried about what the state might do.
“My God is bigger than any bullies they’ve got,” he said. “I don’t worry about it. I honor my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be true to what He wants me to do.”
He added: “My 87-year-old mom works here and she says she’s not being rehabilitated.”
If the state should try to force him, “there’s civil disobedience,” Phillips told Starnes. “We’ll see what happens. I’m not giving up my faith. Too many people have died for this faith to give it up that easily.”
The good news is that the controversy hasn’t cost Phillips much business. In fact, he’s been selling so many cookies and brownies that he’s been able to stop baking wedding cakes, at least temporarily.
“Obey Christ rather than worry about what man can do to you,” Phillips said.
Who is John Galt.
Stand firm, Jack. If I were within driving distance, I’d patronize your store every week.
It is just appalling what this family is going through.
Besides just having to deal with the sick perverts, a great financial burden has come upon him, along with the time and effort necessary to deal with this. This is money he could have for his family and time for his family and business.
It sounds like this through this persecution, he must be leaning on James 1:2, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,..”
I pray for his steadfastness to honor God.
Someone should tell him that. Wonder if he’d get in trouble if he only does it for homo “merges”.
Fagstopo - great word!!
I haven't seen anything about the area's Catholic or other Christian churches standing in support of this man. They may be but I haven't read anything on it.
I heard his sales were up or something
I want to hear priests, preachers and bishops speak out in defense of decency, in defense of sanity.
me too
Good for him! May God continue to strengthen and encourage him to stand for truth. Who would have thought even ten years ago that a cake baker could be prosecuted for NOT baking a wedding cake for homosexuals??? What idiot would think forcing someone to cook for you will result in something delicious!?
I want to hear priests, preachers and bishops speak out in defense of decency, in defense of sanity.
...you will be waiting a long time for that, particularly in the case of bishops...
...if a latter day populist prophet came into a number of churches and started dumping out all the collection boxes and bingo winnings, the bishops would be appalled and calling for his arrest...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.