T
Thomas1981
Guest
A good statement from Archbishop Chaput and others here on this very point:
thepublicdiscourse.com/2015/04/14748/
thepublicdiscourse.com/2015/04/14748/
Want to defend the law, there is one, and only one argument you need to know, and written by some a bunch of “crazy religious bigots” back in 1787:
Article * (Amendment 1 - Freedom of expression and religion)
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,*** or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech****, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
First amendment, first issue addressed in the Constitution.
That this is controversial in America is really something that should give us pause.
The First Amendment is not an open-ended guarantee of “religious freedom.”
So as not to have to make an unnecessary journey to the next town before finding out that the cake shop there won’t cater to your wedding. Does the shop offer cakes over the internet? How would that work? If the shop wishes to limit the people it wishes to serve, then better to let potential customers know in advance. Otherwise they could be sued for the cost of a wasted journey.Why would that be necessary?
But the law is not. Read the various RFRA laws. They are not specific. The original Federal RFRA law arose from the Native American use of peyote in religious rituals. IIRC Sikhs have used RFRA laws to be allowed to carry a kirpan (small knife) in situations where knives are not normally allowed. The law is a general law, covering many different religions and many different situations.If the law is restricted to a faith exception for same-sex marriages …
It is a requirement for truth in advertising. The shop is not really advertising its services to everyone, but only to some people. It needs to make that clear in its advertising. A Kosher deli, advertising as a Kosher deli is making it clear that you will not be served a ham sandwich there. Do you think that Christians should lie – even by omission – in their advertising?Requiring them to advertise that by putting a sign in their window would open them to harassment and smacks more than a little of the requirement to wear a yellow star on your clothes…no.
It is not quite as simple as that. There are obvious restrictions on freedom of religion. For example, if someone wants to offer a live human heart to one of the Aztec gods they are rightly forbidden by law from doing so. As with all freedoms, there are limits. The laws and courts are there to referee disputes between limits on different freedoms.Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,*** or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech***, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Yes, I understand that there are limitations. But what people don’t seem to understand is that this law is NOT ABOUT the open-ended guarantee of religious freedom under any circumstances. It simply establishes that religious freedom is a very important principal of the United States as enshrined in our Constitution, that’s why it was listed in the first amendment. To burden religious expression you need a compelling interest to do so, and this law establishes that this is up to the courts to determine. Also, the idea that “the world has changed” does not change the protections for minorities established in the Constitution, and by minorities here I mean people of traditional faiths that live it fully in accordance with doctrine. Just because Obama and a majority of Americans have “evolved” means nothing. The Constitution cannot be amended by a mere 50.1% of Americans, it is designed to protect against the tyranny of the majority. Right now that majority is supportive of LGBT causes over religious people.The First Amendment is not an open-ended guarantee of “religious freedom.”
It is not quite as simple as that. There are obvious restrictions on freedom of religion. For example, if someone wants to offer a live human heart to one of the Aztec gods they are rightly forbidden by law from doing so. As with all freedoms, there are limits. The laws and courts are there to referee disputes between limits on different freedoms.
Attitudes to gays, and to same sex marriage, are changing. That means that some of the boundaries between different freedoms are moving under political influence. When voters change, politicians change with them.
The whole point of the Constitution is that it does not change simply because “the times they are a changing’” and it protects people who “don’t want to change” as well. This RFRA is not trying to overturn the social consensus on same-sex marriage, it is simply trying to all people to be “free to disagree”…you know, tolerance and all that stuff that liberals cared about before they had the power to enforce their own vision? Yeah, now tolerance is passe too.Once the change has been made, then the boundaries between freedoms will settle down again in their new position. The world has adapted to allowing divorce; in time it will adapt to same sex marriage as well.
Yes, the Republican Party sold its soul for 30 pieces of silver long ago, they are as craven as any.What part of ‘follow the money’ do people not get. The governor will do what the big corporations want. Period. Amen.
It has nothing to do with religious beliefs or votes. If big business says jump, no one asks how high, they just jump.
That is your opinion, which you are entitled to.What part of ‘follow the money’ do people not get. The governor will do what the big corporations want. Period. Amen.
It has nothing to do with religious beliefs or votes. If big business says jump, no one asks how high, they just jump.
I hear you, odd Obama spin and totally incorrect and a immature view which we all have seen in America, in fact lived through it.That is your opinion, which you are entitled to.
What people are not getting are any facts that support that cynical opinion.
That said if you read the 93 law by Clinton and listen to his speech all we see is more fairy tales. Really common for this O-team as Josh was in line with the same thinking. No different than Obama hope and the new world to come. Unless world war is the new hope no-one knows what in the world Obama is ever talking about.Josh Earnest also said Pence’s comparison was false, mostly because of the spirit and intent of the laws 22 years apart.
“If he wants to hate people, he can hate them not here in my bakery.”
Apparently Obama commanded his legion to attack the Church.“I was sick and tired of Christian businesses being attacked by homosexual groups,” said Theodore Shoebat, a self-described “militant Christian,” told 7NEWS in January. He said he called 13 businesses last year ordering cakes.
Yah, that was me!!Any group within a group can easily become exclusive and further discriminate. No different for example than with Isis.
Anyway I watched the 3-point NCAA shoot out last night at Indiana. Astonishing, talk about diverse, a girl from Canada beat all the guys, she hit 10 in a row to start.![]()
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The owners are devout Catholics, by the way. It is unfortunate that they got drug into this dispute. Having dealt extensively with another Colorado public commission I can tell you that they are largely above the rule of law and are known for issuing totally subjective and inconsistent decisions .Denver’s Azucar Bakery wins right to refuse to make anti-gay cakes
thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/denvers-azucar-bakery-wins-right-to-refuse-to-make-anti-gay-cake
Today we fight more over theoretical principles of law, morality, and equity than practical social injustices and restrictions of liberty.The owners are devout Catholics, by the way. It is unfortunate that they got drug into this dispute. Having dealt extensively with another Colorado public commission I can tell you that they are largely above the rule of law and are known for issuing totally subjective and inconsistent decisions .
I grew up during the civil rights movement. I can recall traveling through the south and seeing the segregated restrooms and separate water fountains . I can remember armed troops being used to allow African-Americans to go to schools and people being beat and having dogs loosed on them for demanding their civil rights. Now some 60 years later we are fighting over baking cakes. It is a sad commentary on our culture
I think this silly cake fights trivialize the struggles African Americans went through.Today we fight more over theoretical principles of law, morality, and equity than practical social injustices and restrictions of liberty.
I know, I remember the 1-95 corridor being under construction all through the deep south especially in SC and Georgia. It use to detour into the fruit and peanut fields and rows of one room shacks. No-one from the north traveled through there at night. The police would have you in kangaroo court on the road side taking pay offs. They always wanted to know how much cash you had on you, thats what your fine was.I grew up during the civil rights movement. I can recall traveling through the south and seeing the segregated restrooms and separate water fountains . I can remember armed troops being used to allow African-Americans to go to schools and people being beat and having dogs loosed on them for demanding their civil rights. Now some 60 years later we are fighting over baking cakes. It is a sad commentary on our culture