Tuesday, December 5, 2017

In Supreme Court gay wedding cake case, Kennedy says state has not been tolerant of baker's religious views

Via Billy

Justice Elena Kagan engaged the baker's attorney, Kristen Waggoner, in an extended discussion over which wedding services included protected speech under the First Amendment. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy said during oral arguments on Tuesday that Colorado did not appear to show religious tolerance when it used its public accommodations law to force baker Jack Phillips to create speech via a custom cake for a same-sex wedding that defies his religious beliefs.

The line of questioning garnered attention because Kennedy often serves as the divided high court's key swing vote, and a split vote could form again in Masterpiece Cakeshop Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission.

Kennedy pointedly criticized Colorado for not being "tolerant" of Phillips' religious beliefs.
"Tolerance is essential in a free society. And tolerance is most meaningful when it's mutual," Kennedy said. "It seems to me that the state in its position here has been neither tolerant nor respectful of Mr. Phillips' religious beliefs."

6 comments:

  1. In regards to the sign "Open for bidneth? You must sell to all comers!" I have this response:
    - No shirt, no shoes, no service
    - What's that "no guns" sign in the front window for? You won't sell to me just because I invoke my right to keep and bear arms?

    I appreciate the baker's principles, but in hindsight I wonder if he wishes he'd just been a complete a$$ to the homos, told them he'd make the cake but to watch out for that fudge frosting!

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    1. In regards to the sign "Open for bidneth? You must sell to all comers!" I have this response:
      - No shirt, no shoes, no service
      - What's that "no guns" sign in the front window for? You won't sell to me just because I invoke my right to keep and bear arms?

      Excellent points.

      Delete
  2. "We Reserve the Right to Refuse Service to Anyone." Signs like that were all over when I was a kid. These queers were just trying to cram their agenda down the throat of anyone opposing them. Enough!

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    1. & Due To Our Facilities We Are Unable To Serve Patrons. Tom Frost Diner Warrenton, Virginia.

      Delete
  3. The baker is offering a service. If government can compel him to provide said service, against his will, it would be, by definition, involuntary servitude. Involuntary servitude translates as involuntary SLAVERY. In fact, if it stands, this would literally mean government is mandating slavery.

    By the way, this has always been the problem with the 1964 uncivil rights act. Government assumed the power to compel service and once it assumes that power for one group it is merely a matter of appointing others who are now your master.

    Y'all have a nice day.

    ReplyDelete