This one is a story I've been asked to comment on & we can pick up the story from the BBC :
'A Christian-run bakery that refused a customer's request to make a cake with a slogan supporting gay marriage could face a discrimination case in court.Ashers Baking Company declined an order from a gay rights activist, asking for cake featuring the Sesame Street puppets, Bert and Ernie.The customer also wanted the cake to feature the logo of a Belfast-based campaign group called "Queerspace".The County Antrim firm could face legal action from the Equality Commission.The watchdog confirmed it is assisting the customer whose order was refused and has written to the baking company on his behalf.'
In this video, the Managing Director of the firm puts his case across as to why he felt the company could not bake this cake:
Which is fair enough 'cos we all have freedom of belief in this country.
But if this goes to court, the company's legal advisers must surely explain to them that the courts have by other cases pretty much clarified the discrimination laws in this area and that would indicate this business would loose, big time.
And that is where I want to say, what the feck? Choose your battles. Isn't there a difference between baking a cake and a community being forced to marry gay couples, against their beliefs? Isn't that where the battle ground should be, if you genuinely believe in religious freedom?
Is being made a martyr and loosing everything, for the business, the employees, the Christian cause generally and the community worth a dispute over one cake?
Is there a difference for freedom of religion in refusing to bake a cake, however daft that sounds, for a gay person and refusing to marry them in a religious ceremony? I can see the difference here, which I am happy to discuss further in the comments thread, but can anyone else?
Discuss.
