As I explain here in my new video explaining why, today is a devastating day for religious liberty in the United States of America.
The Supreme Court declined to hear the case of Barronelle Stutzman, the owner of Arlene’s Flowers, letting stand a lower court ruling that had ordered the 76-year-old grandmother to participate in a same-sex wedding ceremony.
The Supreme Court in effect said that gay rights trump the rights of Christian business owners.
“Although the outcome of this case is tragic, the critical work of protecting the First Amendment freedoms of all Americans must continue,” said Kristen Waggoner, an attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom.
“No one should are forced to express a message or celebrate an event they disagree with,” Waggoner said.
The Mainstream Media portrayed this sweet, church-going grandmother as a homophobic monster, but it was all a lie.
In reality, she had gladly served many gay customers and even hired gay staff. But when it came to same-sex weddings, she drew a hard line.
“A government that can crush someone like Barronelle, who kindly served her gay customer for nearly a decade but simply declined to create art celebrating one sacred ceremony, can use its power to crush any of us regardless of our political ideology or views on important issues like marriage.”
In 2013 longtime customer Rob Ingersoll asked Mrs. Stutzman to create floral arrangements celebrating his same-sex marriage.
As a devout Christian, Mrs. Stutzman believes marriage is between one man and one woman. She could not use her talents to create floral art that celebrates a view of marriage contrary to that belief.
Mrs. Stutzman met with Ingersoll and politely explained that while she deeply cared for him she could not participate in his wedding.
After she explained her decision, the two hugged and he left the store — and made a bee-line to the local television stations and newspapers.
The Washington State Attorney General decided to make an example out of the 76-year-old grandmother suing her in both her professional and personal capacity.
She now stands to lose not only her business, but her home and her life-savings.
The attorney general obtained a court order barring the grandmother from discriminating against same-sex couples in the future. The Washington State Supreme Court upheld the order, not once, but twice.
“The court branded Barronelle a discriminator and ordered her to attend, facilitate and create custom floral art celebrating all marriages or none,” Waggoner wrote to Supreme Court justices.
The question now becomes if gay-owned businesses will be forced to violate their deeply held beliefs and provide services to people who oppose gay marriage.
Only three justices, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch, said they would have taken Mrs. Stutzman’s case.
And there is growing concern that Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett may in fact be cut from the same judicial cloth as Chief Justice John Roberts — liberals disguised as conservatives.
Todd Starnes is a best-selling author and award-winning journalist. He hosts a nationally-syndicated talk radio show from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. His website is ToddStarnes.com. Read more of Todd Starnes' reports here.
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