Anti-religious liberty forces lost at the U.S. Supreme Court today in the case of Jack Phillips, the Colorado baker who sought to live his life in accordance with his faith and so refused to provide a custom-made wedding cake for a same-sex wedding (Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission). This is why you will hear a lot of talk in the media of a narrow decision with little precedential impact. Some aim to downplay what is an important victory for freedom and religious liberty with the Court ruling 7-2 in favor of protecting the baker’s First Amendment constitutional rights.
The Court wrote, “[R]eligious and philosophical objections to gay marriage are protected views and in some instances protected forms of expression.” It doesn’t get any clearer than that. It is notable for the Court to recognize that there are actually philosophical reasons, not just religious ones, to oppose same-sex marriage. Regardless, all are protected views under the First Amendment.
Click here to read the rest of this op-ed at Townhall.com.
Click here for our press release: “Conservative Women Celebrate Freedom as the U.S. Supreme Court Decides Masterpiece Cakeshop.”
Check out our CEO & President Penny Nance’s statement in front of the Court at oral arguments:
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Mario Diaz, Esq. is CWA’s general counsel. Follow him on Twitter @mariodiazesq.