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Related: About this forumReligious Right in Arizona Cheers Bill Allowing Businesses to Refuse to Serve Gays
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/22/us/religious-right-in-arizona-cheers-bill-allowing-businesses-to-refuse-to-serve-gays.htmlBy MICHAEL PAULSON and FERNANDA SANTOSFEB. 21, 2014
A florist would not provide flowers for the wedding last year of Robert Ingersoll, left, and Curt Freed, leading to a lawsuit. Julie Saraceno, via Reuters
In New Mexico, a photographer declined to take pictures of a lesbian couples commitment ceremony. In Washington State, a florist would not provide flowers for a same-sex wedding. And in Colorado, a baker refused to make a cake for a party celebrating the wedding of two men.
The business owners cited religious beliefs in declining to provide services celebrating same-sex relationships. And in each case, they were sued.
Now, as states around the nation weigh how to balance the rights of same-sex couples with those of conservative religious business owners, Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona must decide whether to sign legislation that would allow business owners to cite religious beliefs as a legal justification for denying service to same-sex couples.
The legislation, approved by lawmakers on Thursday, immediately attracted national attention, with conservative religious groups welcoming it as a necessary form of protection for objectors to same-sex marriage, and gay rights groups denouncing it as a license for discrimination. The measure comes at a time when the courts are grappling with how to define the religious rights of private businesses: The Supreme Court is to hear two cases next month in which businesses are seeking exemptions from providing insurance coverage for contraception to their employees, citing the religious beliefs of the companies owners.
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Religious Right in Arizona Cheers Bill Allowing Businesses to Refuse to Serve Gays (Original Post)
cbayer
Feb 2014
OP
But is the 'religious left' or 'religious center' making any efforts to oppose this?
Bluenorthwest
Feb 2014
#4
Walk away
(9,494 posts)1. Good Christians! nt
cbayer
(146,218 posts)2. The guys in the picture? They might well be.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)3. If this bill gets passed I hope the courts stay it and overturn it.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)5. It's already passed. Now it's on the governor's desk. But
I feel pretty certain that the courts will overturn it. It is blatantly unconstitutional, imo.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)6. I don't trust the governor so I assume she will sign it.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)8. Her decision will be 100% politically motivated, of that I am sure.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)4. But is the 'religious left' or 'religious center' making any efforts to oppose this?
Here's what the RCC mouthpiece said in support of the law:
Were seeing across the country legitimate threats, primarily in the courts, to religious liberties, to individuals to institutions, to businesses and to other groups.
http://azstarnet.com/news/state-and-regional/bill-enhancing-religious-defense-advances-in-arizona-legislature/article_047b0f4e-f560-5955-92ee-a8f609ceb650.html
cbayer
(146,218 posts)7. Yes, they are
Bill is against Methodist beliefs
Early Friday, Robert T. Hoshibata, Resident Bishop of the Desert Southwest Conference of the United Methodist Church, sent a note to about 212 active and retired clergy in Arizona and southern Nevada asking them to reach out to Brewer voicing opposition to the bill.
Our laws reflect how we value people. If the laws of Arizona that we value some and dont value others, thats outside of what we United Methodists Believe. In the letter, I quoted a very short portion of our Book of Discipline. Its a book of laws that guide our work together as a denomination.
We affirm all persons as equally valuable in the sight of God. We therefor we work toward societies in which each persons value is recognized, maintained, and strengthened.
Early Friday, Robert T. Hoshibata, Resident Bishop of the Desert Southwest Conference of the United Methodist Church, sent a note to about 212 active and retired clergy in Arizona and southern Nevada asking them to reach out to Brewer voicing opposition to the bill.
Our laws reflect how we value people. If the laws of Arizona that we value some and dont value others, thats outside of what we United Methodists Believe. In the letter, I quoted a very short portion of our Book of Discipline. Its a book of laws that guide our work together as a denomination.
We affirm all persons as equally valuable in the sight of God. We therefor we work toward societies in which each persons value is recognized, maintained, and strengthened.
Legislators have no shame
Its one of the worst bills passed in state history, said Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer of the United Church of Christ, which has ordained gay men and women as priests since 1972, and routinely performs gay marriages.
Its state-sanctioned discrimination, Dorhauer said. We will identify the legislators who voted for this and take public action.
When asked if they were going to publicly shame the lawmakers, Dorhauer, who is the president of the Arizona Ecumenical Council, said I am not sure if shame would have any impact on them. If they had any shame at all they wouldnt have passed this legislation.
Its one of the worst bills passed in state history, said Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer of the United Church of Christ, which has ordained gay men and women as priests since 1972, and routinely performs gay marriages.
Its state-sanctioned discrimination, Dorhauer said. We will identify the legislators who voted for this and take public action.
When asked if they were going to publicly shame the lawmakers, Dorhauer, who is the president of the Arizona Ecumenical Council, said I am not sure if shame would have any impact on them. If they had any shame at all they wouldnt have passed this legislation.
Bad for faith communities
Many people already assume that church folk are narrow, bigoted people who judge and discriminate against others, Doug Bland, pastor of the Community Christian Church of Tempe and an executive board member of the Arizona Ecumenical Council. Unfortunately, SB1062 protects our right to hate and discriminate. Its bad for Arizona and bad for communities of faith.
Many people already assume that church folk are narrow, bigoted people who judge and discriminate against others, Doug Bland, pastor of the Community Christian Church of Tempe and an executive board member of the Arizona Ecumenical Council. Unfortunately, SB1062 protects our right to hate and discriminate. Its bad for Arizona and bad for communities of faith.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/politics/articles/20140221arizona-religion-law-reactions.html
And that's just in Arizona.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)9. Glad and not suprised to see this.
edhopper
(33,651 posts)10. Unfortunately
I don't trust the SCOTUS to overturn it.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)11. I think it will be overturned before it ever gets to them.
edhopper
(33,651 posts)12. Since this is clearly a constitutional matter
AZ can appeal up to them. And then.......
cbayer
(146,218 posts)13. I think that their Holly Hobby ruling will be a telling sign.
At any rate, it's going to be a long road.