Colorado bureaucrats ruled Friday that Denver's Azucar Bakery did not discriminate against William Jack last year when it refused his request for two cakes with Bible verses condemning homosexuality. He's now appealing that decision as critics say it has created a double standard.
According to NBC affiliate KUSA Denver, Jack visited Azucar Bakery, Le Bakery Sensual, and Gateaux Pastries in March 2014.
At each shop, he requested two Bible-shaped cakes.
The first one was to read "God hates sin. Psalm 45:7" and "Homosexuality is a detestable sin. Leviticus 18:2."
On the second cake, he requested "God loves sinners" and "While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Romans 5:8." He also requested an image of two groomsmen with a red "X" over them be made along with the lettering on the second cake.
Marjorie Silva, the owner of Azucar, agreed to make the Bible-shaped cakes, but refused to write the Bible passages or draw the picture.
After he was refused service, Jack filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Division, which ruled Friday that he had not been discriminated against based on creed or religion, but because his request included "derogatory language and imagery."
"In the same manner [Silva] would not accept [an order from] anyone wanting to make a discriminatory cake against Christians, [she] will not make one that discriminates against gays," the decision read,
according to ABC affiliate 7 News Denver.
"The evidence demonstrates that [Silva] would deny such requests to any customer, regardless of creed."
Critics like Twitchy.com and political pundit Michelle Malkin said that the decision created a double standard, as the Colorado Civil Rights Division ruled last year that Masterpiece Cake Shop in Lakewood violated the law when it refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple, Charlie Craig and David Mullins. The owner, Jack Phillips, a self-described Christian, cited his faith when he refused their request.
In the wake of Friday's decision, Jack has announced that he is appealing the ruling, and released the following statement:
"The Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD) has determined that three Colorado bakeries that refused to decorate cakes with Bible verses for a Christian are not guilty of discrimination under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA). It is offensive that the bakers who refused me service deemed the Bible verses I requested on two cakes 'discriminatory' and the CCRD considered that reason enough for them to deny me service. It is offensive that the legal director of the Colorado chapter of the ACLU called those very Bible verses 'obscenities' and refused my request for assistance in fighting the censorship I experienced."
"It is offensive that the state of Colorado prosecuted Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop for bringing his Christian faith to bear in his decision not to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple, yet business owners who decide to refuse service to a Christian wanting Bible verses on cakes are exonerated by the state. CADA is being used to censor Christian business owners' free speech and is being used to coerce them to participate in events that violate their consciences. This is hypocrisy and unequal treatment before the law. At this most holy time on the Christian calendar, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, it is reprehensible and demeaning that the Bible is considered an immoral, illegal book to be censored from the public arena. Therefore, I am in the process of filing an appeal with the CCRD."
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.