Christian leaders are voicing their support after the Supreme Court ruled this week in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to bake a wedding cake for a same sex couple.
The ruling was 7-2 in favor of baker Jack Phillips. In 2012, Phillips refused to bake a cake for David Mullins and Charlie Craig. The couple wanted a cake to celebrate their wedding, which was set to take place in another state.
Phillips said he couldn’t bake the cake for the couple because of his religious beliefs.
In the ruling, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which followed up on a complaint filed by the couple, showed hostility toward Phillips.
Christian evangelist Franklin Graham said the decision was an “answer to prayers.”
“We thank God for answered prayer! Today the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Jack Phillips, the Colorado baker who refused to create a wedding cake for a same-sex marriage ceremony. This is a huge win for religious freedom!”
Said Russell Moore, of the president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention:“The Supreme Court is right: the state should not compel people to use their artistic gifts for speech that goes against their deepest-held convictions,” he tweeted.
Sutherland Institute's Bill Duncan, director for The Center for Family and Society, said he supported the ruling.
“Combined with past Court decisions upholding the dignity of those in the LGBT community, today’s ruling reminds us that equality applies to all Americans, not just the favored few, and we must protect those with firmly held religious beliefs, members of the LGBTQ community, and all citizens alike,” he said.
Kristen Waggoner, senior counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian nonprofit, also voiced supportfor the ruling.
“Government hostility toward people of faith has no place in our society, yet the state of Colorado was openly antagonistic toward Jack’s religious beliefs about marriage. The court was right to condemn that,” she said.
Pastor Greg Locke tweeted, "Glad to hear that #SCOTUS voted 7-2 in favor of the Christian baker in Colorado. Stand up Believers. Now that's #PrideMonth at its finest."
Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstock/sframephoto
Publication date: June 5, 2018
