Supreme Court Leaning Towards Christian Baker in Case Over Gay Wedding Cakes

supreme court wedding cake
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 05: Protesters gather in front of the Supreme Court building on the day the court is to hear the case Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission December 5, 2017 in Washington, DC. Charlie Craig and Dave Mullins filed a complaint with the commission after conservative Christian baker Jack Phillips refused to sell them a wedding cake for their same-sex ceremony. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Today, the Supreme Court heard arguments on a case that could shape the lives of American Christians irreparably going forward.

I’m not mincing words when I say this is the most monumental Supreme Court decision that will affect Christians in this decade. This one is for all the marbles on God’s green earth.

The case involves the right of Christians to decline providing a service to an event that they hold as an affront to their beliefs – namely, the constitutional right for a Christian baker to not provide a customized cake for a gay wedding.

In 2012, Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips of Colorado declined to bake Charlie Craig and David Mullins a cake for their gay wedding. He was sued, with Craig and Mullins citing anti-discrimination laws as justification to force Phillips to bake the cake, or lose his business (and livelihood) as a result.

At its core, the case is about religious liberty and the right to freely live your faith in America without persecution. And, during today’s arguments, it looks like the Court is leaning towards ruling in Phillips’s favor.

Politico reports: “The high court’s champion of gay rights, Justice Anthony Kennedy, seemed troubled by Colorado officials’ treatment of Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips after he turned down Charlie Craig and David Mullins’ request for a custom cake to celebrate their wedding in 2012.”

More from the report: “‘Tolerance is essential in a free society. Tolerance is most meaningful when it’s mutual,’ Kennedy said during oral arguments that were scheduled for an hour but stretched to nearly an hour and a half. ‘It seems to me the state in its position has been neither tolerant nor respectful of Mr. Phillips’ religious beliefs.’ Kennedy dismissed as ‘too facile’ a lawyer’s arguments that Phillips had discriminated against the gay couple based on their identity. And the Reagan appointee and frequent swing justice suggested Colorado went too far in ordering Phillips to implement remedial training for his workers.”

Justice Kennedy has a reputation of being the Court’s swing vote. He has provided the crucial decision on a number of significant decisions, including the 2015 ruling that struck down anti-gay marriage laws implemented in states, effectively making same-sex marriage the law nationwide. It would be the height of irony for Kennedy to cast the deciding vote upholding the right of Christian bakers like Phillips to live our their faith in business, free from state intimidation.

The Supreme Court won’t announce its ruling on the case for another few months, but this news should be heartening for Christians. If gay marriage is going to be legal in the U.S., then it shouldn’t be too much to ask for that faithful business owners to have the freedom of their conscience during commercial operations. After all, Christians don’t hold monopolies on business in this country. If a gay couple wants a wedding cake, and the bakery they choose declines to provide the service, they are free to pick another.

That’s called freedom.

Plus, there’s one pesky detail in this specific case that dooms the opposing side who wishes to enforce its secular beliefs on God-fearing bakers. As Princeton professor Robert George and Sherif Girgis write in the New York Times: “At some level, Colorado itself gets it. Three times the state has declined to force pro-gay bakers to provide a Christian patron with a cake they could not in conscience create given their own convictions on sexuality and marriage. Colorado was right to recognize their First Amendment right against compelled speech. It’s wrong to deny Jack Phillips that same right.”

Amen to that!

Here’s how we know things look hopeful for faithful Americans: The left is shaking in their fair-trade hemp sneakers. Check out this infamous Think Progress blogger fretting over Twitter:

What do you think? Will the Supreme Court, with newly-appointed Justice Neil Gorsuch on the bench, rule in favor of faithful Christians? Tell us your thoughts below, and share this story on Facebook now!

Jim E. is a true political insider, with experience working both in Washington and outside in real America. Jim... More about Jim E

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