I want to see what you guys think about this. Below is a post from Bob Dutko. Should Christian-owned businesses have the right to refuse service to homosexuals because they believe it is a violation of their rights. Please read the post below before you comment. I'm having a really tough time with this one because to me, it has the potential of being not much different than the days of segregation.
Hey folks, Bob here. There is a controversy brewing in Arizona. Here's the deal. The Republican controlled Legislature has now passed a Bill called “The Religious Freedom and Restoration Act”, however, most of the media is calling it an “anti-homosexual” Bill that “legalizes discrimination against gays”. So which is it? Well, let's look at the facts. The reason Arizona Republicans passed this Bill was to protect Christian owned businesses from eventually being legally forced to participate in gay weddings through their businesses, even if it violates their religious beliefs. These Republicans saw all those recent cases of Christian owned bakeries, photographers, print shops, Bed and Breakfasts and more in other states that were targeted by gays and lesbians who “demanded” they provide the cakes, catering, photography or whatever for their “weddings”. When the Christian owned businesses declined, rather than the homosexuals merely going to another business, they instead demanded those Christian businesses comply. When they wouldn't, lesbian and gay activists and groups launched slash and burn campaigns against those businesses as well as reporting them to their State governments. In a growing number of cases, these businesses have been “ordered” by the state to violate their beliefs and use their business for the needs of the gay wedding, and Appeals Courts have ruled against the Christian businesses, which is why the Republican Legislature in Arizona has taken this action, to protect Arizona Christian owned businesses from having this happen to them. On the other side, most of the media (and of course, gay groups) are painting this Bill as an “anti-gay” Bill that “legalizes discrimination”. They argue that if businesses aren't allowed to refuse business to people based on race, they shouldn't be allowed to refuse business based on “sexual orientation”. They also argue that this Bill could allow some businesses to just flat out refuse to serve customers who happen to be gay, like maybe a restaurant refusing to serve gay customers, etc. Personally, I don't see that happening. That's not what this Bill is about. This Bill is about protecting a Christian bakery from being forced by the state to violate their conscience by participating in a gay wedding by providing the wedding cake. And if you think about it, there haven't been problems with gay people being denied service in restaurants, etc. Trust me, cases like this would be all over the news. Think about it, if Christian owned businesses refusing to participate in gay weddings makes national news, do you really think a Christian restaurant owner refusing to even serve a burger to a gay couple WOULDN'T be an even bigger story? So no, I don't see that type of “discrimination” happening, and so I do support this Bill in Arizona. Republican Governor Jan Brewer is currently trying to decide whether to sign it or veto it. I actually suspect she will veto it because many Arizona businesses are opposing this Bill. Their reason is they are afraid the gay and liberal groups will launch national “anti-Arizona” campaigns, discouraging people from doing business with Arizona in any way, which yes, could hurt commerce in Arizona. So what do all think of this Bill? Do you see it as a good and necessary thing to protect Christian owned businesses from being forced to have their company provide services for gay weddings? Or do you consider this Bill an unfair legalizing of discrimination against gay people? What do you all think? I will keep open blogs available and as you post to them I will change the title. So feel free to enter into an open blog and I will create new ones as different topics get added.
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Band of BrothersTough Questions? Relevant Topics? Open Discussion? This is for you. Archives
July 2015
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