Tag Archives: Masterpiece Cakeshop

SCOTUS 2020-21 Term Preview

Posted on October 2, 2020 by David E Smith

The U.S. Supreme Court fall term begins this month, and, as of now, it does not appear to be as action-packed for religious liberty as this past term. However, at least one important case is in the hopper, and several are in the pipeline. And, of course, all is overshadowed by the presumed replacement of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Judge Amy Coney Barrett.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Amy Coney Barrett, Arlene’s Flowers, Bostock v. Clayton County, Christian Legal Society v. Martinez, Fulton v. Philadelphia, Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, Masterpiece Cakeshop, Neil Gorsuch, Patients for Privacy v. Barr, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, SOGI | Comments Off

Klein v. Oregon: Religious Liberty & Freedom of Speech vs. Gay Rights

Posted on July 9, 2019 by David E Smith

Among recent actions by the U.S. Supreme Court, a four-sentence order may set the stage for the court to eventually address the collision between free speech and religious freedom on one hand and gay rights on the other. The order voided a judgment by the state of Oregon that had imposed a $135,000 fine on Portland-area bakery owners—the Kleins—for refusing to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple. Oregon maintained that its anti-discrimination law condemned such a rebuff even when the bakery owners’ religious convictions run counter to participating in a same-sex wedding.

Posted in Religious Liberty, Sexuality | Tagged Arlene Flowers, Barronelle Stutzman, compelled speech doctrine, Employment Division v. Smith, Free Exercise clause, Jack Phillips, Masterpiece Cakeshop, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, Melissa and Aaron Klein, Oregon, Religious Freedom Restoration Act, SCOTUS, Sherbert v. Verner, The Sherbert test, W. Va. State Board of Education v. Barnett, Washington Supreme Court | Comments Off

The Way Back to Religious Liberty

Posted on January 27, 2018 by Benjamin D. Smith

In early January, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) overturned a longstanding policy that forbade churches from getting federal disaster relief money. The rule change by the Trump Administration affected any houses of worship that were damaged on or after August 23, just before...

Posted in Religious Liberty | Tagged David Barton, FEMA, First Amendment, G.K. Chesterton, Hugo Black., Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Maria, Masterpiece Cakeshop, Supreme Court, Thomas Jefferson | Comments Off

Religious Freedom Cases Stacking Up

Posted on October 3, 2017 by David E Smith

Court cases across the country continue to point to the big showdown coming soon at the U.S. Supreme Court.In the ongoing legal battles over religious freedom, there are advances and setback. One win happened last month. When Amy Larson, a Christian photographer in Wisconsin who declines to photograph so-called same-sex weddings, saw what was happening to similar photographers across the country, she was concerned that her decision would violate local and state law. So, she decided she wasn’t going to shoot any weddings.But she also decided to challenge a local ordinance and the state law. And she won! But…

Posted in Religious Liberty | Tagged Alliance Defending Freedom, Amy Larson, Blaine Adamson, Carl and Angel Larsen, Christian Worldview, Masterpiece Cakeshop, Religious Liberty | Comments Off

12 Recent Cases Where Christians Were Punished for Their Beliefs on Marriage

Posted on December 19, 2016 by David E Smith

The Family Research Council has compiled a reporting listing 12 cases this past decade in America where Christian business owners have been punished or threatened with punishment for holding traditional beliefs about marriage in order to comply with anti-discrimination laws regarding gay people.

Posted in Religious Liberty | Tagged Aaron and Melissa Klein, Arlene’s Flowers, Barronelle Stutzman, Brush & Nib Studio, Carl and Angel Larsen, Elaine and Jonathan Huguenin, Elane Photography, Family Research Council, Gortz Haus Gallery, Jim Walder, Liberty Ridge Farm, Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, Sweet Cakes by Melissa, Telescope Media Group, The Hitching Post Wedding Chapel, TimberCreek Bed & Breakfast, Wildflower Inn | Comments Off

Gov’t Seeking to Impose ‘New Belief System’ on Client

Posted on January 10, 2014 by David E Smith

A Colorado baker who declined to bake a cake for a same-gender “wedding” is fighting through an appeal to make sure his constitutionally protected freedoms – as well those of others – aren’t taken away.

In the summer of 2012, Charlie Craig and David Mullins filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Division after cake artist Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop refused to endorse their marriage ceremony because of his faith. Last month the Colorado Administrative Law Court ruled Phillips must provide the cakes for homosexuals and prove that he has complied with the court order. Alliance Defending Freedom…

Posted in Religious Liberty | Tagged Charlie Craig, David Mullins, Jack Phillips, Kristen Waggoner, Masterpiece Cakeshop, Nicole Martin | Comments Off