Can a business deny service to a gay couple?
That a recent panel discussion was even held at an Ivy League school on Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission shows what a far-reaching impact the Supreme Court case will make on society.
Princeton University’s Daily Princetonian reported that five philosophers debated where to draw the line between religious liberty and discrimination. It examined whether a bakery owner in Colorado had the right to refuse to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding, or as business serving the public he can’t discriminate.
Ryan Anderson, who co-authored a book in 2004 defending traditional marriage, said the bakery case is similar to abortion, where women can choose to undergo one, but doctors have a right to refuse to perform one.
While anti-gay bigotry is wrong, this is not a case of anti-gay bigotry, Anderson insisted.
But Kevin Vallier of Bowling Green State University said upgrading religious exemptions would produce a “Swiss cheese legal system.”
Regardless of how the Supreme Court rules, Christian business owners must soon decide how they will address this issue in their day-to-day operations.
More on Conflict & Criticism
- Unique problems grow you uniquely (by Richard Blackaby)
- They tried to quiet Charlie Kirk—but the gospel still speaks (by Bob Russell)
- The power of an unoffendable heart (by Tom Crenshaw)
- How did Jesus deal with animosity? (by Chris Bolinger)
