The following comes from a July 15 World News Service story run on Christian Headlines.
Jack Phillips’ bakeshop in Lakewood, Colo., has become a frontline in the battle for religious liberty. Phillips, the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, recently refused to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex wedding. The couple filed a complaint against the bakery, which has been in business for more than two decades. I spoke with Phillips and his attorney, Nicolle Martin of the Alliance Defending Freedom, in the dining area of Masterpiece Cakeshop in the Denver suburbs.
A couple of years ago in 2012, a situation happened here in your bakeshop. Would you describe what has happened since then? I had two guys come in that wanted me to make them a wedding cake. I declined to make a cake for a same-sex wedding. I informed them that I’d make all their other products, birthday cakes, shower cakes, cookies, and brownies, but that was a product that I didn’t do. They left and sent out a message to all their Facebook friends or whatever, and soon phone calls started coming and emails and a lot of hate mail. Pretty vile phone calls … and then it just got pretty crazy after.
Talk to me about that very first interaction. I had two girls working for me, and it would have been their job to do that first. But they were both tied up, so I’m third in line. They indicated that they were both busy, and could I take care of that. I went over to the desk. The two guys introduced themselves. I introduced myself. They said what they were here for. I declined to make that, and they said, “What?” and I said, “I’ll make your other stuff,” and then they stomped out.
Was this something that you had predicted might be a decision you would have to make in your future, or had you actually had other couples come in, in the past? Yes, we’ve run across this in the past, but I don’t make any judgment because two girls could come in, and they’re just good friends and one of them is the bride, you know, and the other one is a friend. So I don’t determine that. But first thing they said was, “We’re here to get a wedding cake. It’s for our wedding.” They let me know it right off.
You and Nicolle Martin, with Alliance Defending Freedom, spoke, and things didn’t go away. No, it did not. They proceeded and set a hearing date, determined that there was cause for a trial, and so then we had a trial.
You still have an opportunity to appeal, but there has been, more or less, a final adjudication, right? Yes, the judge’s ruling. He determined that I violated the public accommodations statute, and I guess that was sent back to the Civil Rights Commission for them to make a ruling. They finalized their ruling a couple weeks ago.
The consequences to you are that you have to file quarterly reports. Quarterly reports. I have to cease and desist my practices, change my policies, retrain my employees.
Are you going to do any of that? You know, I have to talk with my attorneys and see how that plays out.
I’ve heard from media reports that, since this situation has gone public, it has actually helped your business. Is that accurate? It is. A number of things have happened since then that have increased our business because of people hearing about it. A whole lot of local people didn’t know we were here, so they come by and order cakes. More than that, it is people from all over the place that will just come in and want to show their support and buy some cookies or brownies and say they’ve been here. Yesterday, I had a family … on vacation from Michigan, and they didn’t want to go to the coast of Florida or something like that, but this year they wanted to go to Colorado. They went to the zoo, … Glenwood Springs, and Masterpiece Cakeshop. That was a destination.
Down in New Mexico, where a photographer faced a similar trial, there have been nasty threats, letters, and voicemails. You said you got some of those in the beginning. In the case of the photographer down in New Mexico, it actually put them out of business. Clearly that’s not happening here, but is it a concern of yours that, maybe after the publicity has gone away and all of the well-wishers forget you, that things could change? I’ve given that up to the Lord. If that’s what he wants to do here, it’s his business, and he already knows if I can win it or not, so just take it as it comes.
Nicolle, legally, you don’t really know what’s going to happen next. Is that correct? Yes. In order for the Commission to enforce this order, it has to go to the District Court, a court of record, because … even though the Colorado Civil Rights Commission sits as prosecutor, judge, and jury to order Jack to do all this stuff, they have no authority to make him do it. They would have to go and have that order enforced in the District Court. At that point, if and when that were to happen, district courts, courts of record, have broad contempt powers.
You mean that if Jack doesn’t comply, they could find him in contempt of court? That’s correct.
So what’s next? Right now we are considering all of our legal options, which would include an appeal, and weighing that decision. Jack is considering his next steps….
To read the original story, click here.
Don’t be surprised if liberals start rethinking their position on the death penalty. Sacrifices must be made to ensure “marriage equality”, after all.
Good observation Ski, I believe it was Robspierre who said “heads must be chopped off so men can be free”….
God bless this man for standing up for God and against the sodomite angels of Satan. Next time sodomites come into his shop, he should hand them a copy of this:
http://www.tinyurl.com/10SodomiteMyths
Dd you guys catch the part where Jack said he would make other things for these guys weddings, just not a cake?
Isn’t it the same thing? Wedding cake or wedding cupcakes. It’s still cake, with frosting, created to celebrate the union of two people.
I think you misunderstood. He would make them birthday cakes, cakes for other events/celebrations, just not wedding cakes.
First, you are misrepresenting what he said. Second, no matter what Jack said, sodomy will earn you ETERNAL FIRE! (Jude 1:7)
And an awful lot of diseases and bodily injuries in this life.
Religious beliefs and rights NEED to be upheld. What has happened to this baker and others, IS unjust.
“Patience is power.
Patience is not an absence of action;
rather it is “timing”
it waits on the right time to act,
for the right principles
and in the right way.”
― Fulton J. Sheen
I spoke with this baker’s daughter about a year or so, they are very humble and kind folks. They have nothing against homosexuals they just want to live in peace and practice their faith standards. God bless them, Lets help them in some way, please. Lets not allow the bitter, angry and hateful gay activists bully them.
To my knowledge, there are other bakeries near by that can cater to those “gay” activists, they just want to bully this baker, this has nothing to do with them wanting a cake, it is about their activism, they are the most intolerant evil gay activists!
AND THAT IS THE TRUTH!
So, you think that gay people should tolerate the intolerance of the baker? How ironic.
“Gay” people should seek out businesses that cater to their type. The “gay” agenda seems to be the creation of as much turmoil as possible and then file lawsuits. IMHO, error has no rights.
Just like black people should seek out lunch counters of their own type?
Sure. Why not? The homosexuals will also be required to tolerate the intolerance of eternal damnation, so this is just a “warm-up”. This is not an even-handed proposition. The baker is respecting the natural law, the homosexuals are not. The homosexuals do not have the freedom to act out their same-sex proclivities. Our existence is not defined by the human opinion of either side. A person is either obedient or not. After a million years, hell will just be getting started. They’ll have a long time to appeal to the judge down there, because he’ll be there too! Whoever laughs last, laughs best!
Your natural law is a joke. Homosexuality occurs in many species on this planet. It is a small proportion, much like among humans.
Inbreeding and incest occurs in many species should we celebrate and affirm this perversion as well???
Murder takes place in nature too. Legalize murder! Legalize murder! Legalize murder!
So does cannibalism. Female hamsters eat their babies that are born with defects.
YFC wrote: “So you think that gay people should tolerate the intolerance of the baker? How ironic.”
B.I. Responds……”Sure. Why not? The homosexuals will also be required to tolerate the intolerance of eternal damnation, so this is just a “warm-up”. This is not an even-handed proposition. ” = Thank you Baker’s International for your charitably clear warning. You are hereby being awarded the Baker’s Blue Ribbon Award Winning Post!
Yes YFC, ….Unless YOU repent it is no irony that YOU are already familiarizing yourself with the word *BAKING!*
Clearly, Jesus warned his followers that hell was very real. He also taught them that hell was forever:
[I]f your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:43-48; see also Matt. 5:29-30; 18:8-9)
Christian bakers were also “forced” by the state to bake cakes for mixed race couples. What is the difference?
YFC asks, “What is the difference?”
Once again…unless you repent the difference is in the unimaginable degree of heat or the temperature at which brimstone or sulfur changes from a liquid to a gas.
Aye carrumba! YFC your argument is beyond ridiculous! Mixed race couples (man and woman) do not disobey the natural law, sodomy does! Sodomy is a mortal sin!!!!!!!!! Same sex couples is not within God’s plan, so stop it already, you are sounding worst as you go….Blimey! You Whinge the same arguments that have already been proven not in your favor!
Stop with this nonsense! GEESE! But of course, people that disobey God can’t possible understand this.
Mixed race couples being married is not a violation of the natural law… two sodomites getting married is
really YFC….? what’s the difference? well, one’s about skin color and one’s about a sinful ACT (sodomy)……I’m sure you can figure it out.
God did not bake Sodom and Gomorrah over the issue of mixed race couples. Sodom and Gomorrah were punished for Sodomy.
Mixed race couples are not celebrating institutionalized sodomy, YFC. An abomination that cries out to Heaven.
Do not compare mixed race couples to sodomites.
The problem here is: CHRISTIAN MORALITY!! A mixed-race couple does not disobey God’s laws, on Christian Marriage, and their marriages are normal. Sex perversions, however– are unnatural, and wrong! Sex is part of God’s plan for Creation, to create babies! It is not a “toy,” to be misused! We must respect God! That is the difference between these two cases. All of us are called by God, to live a good moral life! We are God’s children, made in His image! America, since the 1960’s– wants to pretend that God, and our Judeo-Christian moral foundations — do not exist! And many clergy in various churches, believe falsely, that it is “too hard,” for today’s Americans, to have maturity and self-discipline, and to lead good Christian moral lives– so, they believe the churches must all stop asking them to do so! (Hedonism is easier! Go do as you please! Have your cake, and eat it too, right?!)
If you think comparing mixed race couples to same sex couples is ridiculous and think that the former is not a violation of natural law, perhaps you ought to review the briefs submitted to the courts that decided Loving v Virginia from the trial court all the way to the Supreme Court. You might be surprised at the similarities.
People can not control what color of skin they were born with.
The color of one’s skin is not sinful, but beautiful.
People can control their own actions.
The act of Sodomy is a mortal sin. If unrepentant it will send Souls to Hell for eternity.
People should not be forced to support sodomy marriage.
We might be surprised by a misuse of the Bible and religion, YFC, in the case you site. But misuse of religious principle does not negate the reality that men with men and women with women is not the basis of complimentary marital union.
Who is the defendant in this case you are pursuing? God’s laws? Love of God? Natural law? Creation? The psychological well being and emotional formation of children? Or those who wish to pursue that which is unnatural and unhealthy and see it elevated to the status of marriage despite the fallout of the basic inconsistency with reality? Or offense against the Creator?
What side are you on, YFC? You seem to be a self-proclaimed Catholic lawyer fighting against that which is God’s law because you can either mince words to mean what you would without paying any attention to the spirit of the law or even putting God first. Is the pay that good? Really?
Our common life together, as a chosen democratic and pluralistic society, seems to require that we all tolerate each other, even when we do not worship together, live together, believe the same things together. Thus a pluralistic society is formed: Those who can agree on some parts and agree to disagree on other parts. Otherwise, there is no union.
God first.
YFC, is there any event which you would refuse to participate in and therefore not tolerate?
Yes of course Tracy.
YFC, why would you want to send the Souls of those with the temptation of Same-Sex attraction to HELL for eternity?
Is it self-loathing?
Sodomy is a Mortal Sin, as is fornication, and adultery.
People can control their own actions.
This is in reference to the Supreme Court case, about mixed marriage, and same-sex “marriage.” I think our American courts of law have abandoned our Judeo-Christian foundations, including the concept of belief in God, belief in objective morality, as established by our Judeo-Christian heritage, and belief in the Judeo-Christian concept of Marriage and children– the very cornerstone of our society, and of all civilization! Our courts and lawmakers of today, are very corrupt, liberal, ,subjective, and personalized, for individual “freedoms,” completely disregarding objective, correct morality!! When mankind makes corrupt laws, we must never believe in or follow them! We must always seek to obey God’s Laws, and correct man’s evils!!
YFC, If any business does not want my money, I would take my business elsewhere.
I would rather support, those who support me.
No one should be forced to support any Mortal Sin.
Sodomy, Fornication, and Adultery are all Mortal Sins.
These sinful actions are all controlled by the individual. Each person has a choice regarding his own actions.
I think all of our churches need to “get serious,” about Christianity, and teach their people right from wrong, and tell them– God really means it! The clergy in America are too afraid, wanting to “please the world,” rather than to do their job, of bringing the world– on its knees– to God!! There is only one Marriage, of one man and one woman– and it is very serious! It is of God! Sex outside Marriage is a sin! And pervert sex acts by two people of the same sex– are completely forbidden, by God! Same-sex attractions are medical issues, of people who are abnormal, and seriously ill! Yes, they say they are “born that way,” “born lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.” Fine! So, that does NOT mean, by any stretch of the imagination– that such conditions are NORMAL!! It is best always– to make peace with a handicap or illness, do your best, seek always to lead a morally- good life, and that’s that!! Grow up, act responsibly, and with dignity, and do your best, to honestly live with what you’ve got!! Follow Christ’s example! He, too, was mistreated, and He died for our sins! Life is not perfect, on Earth! And we are truly meant for Heaven– not this passing world!
People are not born homosexuals, nor fornicators, nor adulterers.
Nor is there any scientific evidence that says otherwise.
These are all merely temptations.
People are responsible for their own actions.
People can say “NO” to mortal sin if they choose to do so.
It’s really all about faith…….many of our clergy have lost their faith. Pray for them. Pray for their eternal souls. It is frightening to know that so many have gotten lost. Pray that they find their way home before it is too late.
How long before the IRS comes after him!
CCC: “1730 God created man a rational being, conferring on him the dignity of a person who can initiate and control his own actions. God willed that man should be ‘left in the hand of his own counsel,’ so that he might of his own accord seek his Creator and freely attain his full and blessed perfection by cleaving to him.”
Man is rational and therefore like God; he is created with FREE WILL and is MASTER OVER HIS ACTS.”
No one must succumb to temptations. This Includes the temptation of homosexual acts for some.
Committing the Mortal Sin of SODOMY is a free will choice – a chosen lifestyle.
YFC says “If you think comparing mixed race couples to same sex couples is ridiculous and think that the former is not a violation of natural law, perhaps you ought to review the briefs submitted to the courts that decided Loving v Virginia from the trial court all the way to the Supreme Court. You might be surprised at the similarities.”
Your statement proves two things: our courts have been hijacked by wacky judges with political agendas and laws made are not always based on Truth or what is right (i.e. Roe v Wade)
There is NOTHING similar between a mixed race couple (man and woman) and a gay couple…..when it comes to natural and moral law.
It is unnatural and immoral for the races to intermarry. That’s what was argued in Loving v Virginia.
It is unnatural and immoral for the same gender to marry. That’s what is being argued now against marriage equality.
Exactly the same argument; both rooted in scripture.
Procreation is natural. Making love to someone else’s bowel movement is sick.
good comeback Ski Ven. This website is something else, many homosexual activist and schismatics working side by side, using this website to fish out Catholics. There is no respect for those who are faithful to Rome!
Another sad sap falls for the Alliance “Defending Freedom” fundraising scam. They represent their clients for free (a defense actually worth less than their clients pay for it) and then use cases like this as window-dressing for big money fundraising. But their attorneys couldn’t care less about their clients. When the Alliance Defending Freedom lead attorney in the Prop 8 case was asked by the judge what harm same-sex marriage posed to society, the attorney couldn’t think of an answer. (It was later revealed that the lead attorney was actually a gay marriage supporter.) Everyone leaves the scene with a pile of dough except for their poor clients.
Jack Phillips should either start figuring out what gays want on their wedding cakes or fill out an application at the local car wash. But he will have to wash gay cars I suppose.
I don’t know Dave. Couldn’t washing a car also be considered a violation of religious conscience if the car is being used to drive the happy couple to their honeymoon destination? Cakes to cars, there’s a slippery slope if I’ve ever seem one . . .
Although, I suppose the car wash could be expected to make a reasonable religious accommodation and have another employee wash the car . . . oh, but don’t take the car to a Catholic High School fund raiser car wash – that would be violation of conscience.
“If we wish to have the light, we must keep the sun; if we wish to keep our forests we must keep our trees; if we wish to keep our perfumes, we must keep our flowers- and if we wish to keep our rights, then we must keep our God.” — Fulton J. Sheen, 1941.
Amen Amen
“Never will we be able to understand our times if we naively ‘think’ of this system of self Government as the work of a few gangsters or the creation of a pack of criminals we call a political party. The appeal of Socialism, Fascism and communism was principally negative; they were protests against a live and let live anything goes liberalism, a spineless indifference to causes, a failure to recognize that nothing was evil enough to hate, and nothing was good enough to die for.” — Fulton J. Sheen
Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, pray for us.