Should Compromising Religious Beliefs Be the Price of Citizenship?

Yesterday, I posted the content of an email entitled  “Conscience Rights for All” that I had received from Alliance Defending Freedom. Today, I was not able to find a link to the article. However, there is a link at the ADF site which shares an excellent essay on this topic from The Public Discourse website. The post goes into more detail regarding this very important issue and the current battle going on within the courts of our nation.

The Public Discourse: SOGI Laws: A Subversive Response to a Nonexistent Problem.

Excerpt:

The “price of citizenship” in a free society can never include our freedom of conscience. If we surrender that, then we have surrendered free society itself.

Throughout history, every person under every regime has had—in the most elemental sense—the freedom to form a unique set of beliefs and values. But, uniquely, citizens of the United States have long been guaranteed the fulfillment of that freedom. That is, we possess the freedom to live peacefully according to our beliefs and to follow the dictates of our conscience.

This freedom—codified by the First Amendment—is a pre-political right that rests in our dignity as human beings. But the cultural movement for “tolerance” and “inclusion” has reduced freedom of conscience to a lesser-than right, a token that exists subject to the decisions of judges and lawmakers.

In recent years, laws that provide special privileges to individuals based on their self-proclaimed gender identity or sexual preferences have emerged across the country. Commonly known as SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) laws, these legislative undertakings are typically fueled by activist groups and represent a subversive response to a nonexistent problem. Available data confirm there exists no significant social pattern or practice of unjust discrimination against these groups. This is not only because the vast majority of Americans already respect each other and are fair-minded, but also because anyone engaged in baseless discrimination faces the prospect of social and financial consequences brought on by public pressure and boycotts.

SOGI laws, however, use the full force of the law to punish individuals who seek to live peacefully and to work in a way that is consistent with their consciences. Elaine Huguenin, Barronelle Stutzman, Jack Phillips, and Blaine Adamson are just a few of the small business owners who gladly serve all people without exception, but who also face legal punishment because they declined to participate in certain events or to create custom art that would have violated their consciences. In Elaine’s case, she politely declined a request to use her expressive photography skills to tell the story of a same-sex commitment ceremony. Her attempt to remain peacefully true to her faith’s teachings about marriage led to a seven-year court battle that culminated in a ruling by the New Mexico Supreme Court against her and her husband, Jon. One justice stated that the Huguenins “now are compelled by law to compromise the very religious beliefs that inspire their lives,” and added that this compulsion “is the price of citizenship.”

Barronelle Stutzman is a 72-year-old grandmother who faces the loss of her business, savings, and home for referring elsewhere a request by a long-time friend and customer that she participate in the celebration of his same-sex wedding by designing custom floral arrangements for it.

In Iowa and Massachusetts, not only religious citizens but even houses of worship are under attack. Churches currently face government-imposed mandates requiring them to open their restrooms to individuals based on their subjectively determined sex rather than biological reality.

Conditional Surrender Fails to Advance Religious Liberty.

[In] the current cultural standoff, proponents of religious freedom and freedom of conscience simultaneously confront opportunities for victory and defeat. We can either choose to enter the arena and strive valiantly for victory, or we can join “those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat,” choosing to negotiate the terms of our own surrender. Now is not the time to partner with proponents of SOGIs in hopes of catching a few crumbs of liberty that fall from the table. Freedom of conscience is not a token to be surrendered as the price of citizenship in a free society; it is the mark of citizenship and the fruit of a free society.

James Gottry is a lawyer and writer with Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal group founded to preserve and defend religious liberty.

Read it all at:

The Public Discourse: SOGI Laws: A Subversive Response to a Nonexistent Problem.

Related article:

The Federalist: BuzzFeed Wants To Destroy Chip And Joanna Gaines For Being Christian And Wildly Popular.

Hat tips to all links.

Why Is That?

If you are a Christian conservative, you might be asking the question, “Why Is That?” regarding the great divide that has happened during and after this contentious election of 2016. The liberal lunatic policies over the past 8 years under the 0bama BADministration has brain-dirtied many groups of people, especially many of the self-named  “coddled childish” Millennials. Those that “came of age” during that time most likely don’t even know about correct history because of the liberal leftist lies that have been drilled into their brains.

Why Is That?

Well, by the end of this post I’m going to make a simple, but hopefully accurate, attempt to answer that question.

Fellowship of the Minds reports: “Hillary Uses Jill Stein to Steal Election Via Voter Recounts in Battleground States.

Read it all at that link, but here is a pertinent excerpt:

Jill Stein made her intentions known on her Facebook page around 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 23. By this afternoon (Nov. 26), Stein has raised more than $5.8 million, with the goal now upped to $7 million. See for yourself at Jill2016.

In other words, in just 3 days Stein raised $5.8 million, all by crowd funding! The same Jill Stein who was the only candidate on the November ballot to rely on public money — four federal payments totaling $456,000 under the Presidential Election Campaign Fund — for her own failed presidential campaign.

So who are these millions of Americans who are donating to Stein’s vote recount war chest?

As in robots. Machines. Not real people.

How do we know this?

Because the donations came in and are still coming in in REGULAR intervals — even at 3 a.m. when most Americans are asleep.

Two days ago, freelance journalist Jim Stone wrote:

“JILL STEIN’S ELECTION RECOUNT IS BEING PAID FOR BY A BOT! A bot is pulling cash from a central fund, and giving it out at a pre determined rate. Go to Jill Stein’s fundraiser page and watch the progress. You will see that her funding is coming in at a PERFECTLY CONSISTENT 160,000 an hour. I watched this yesterday and last night carefully, and noted that at night, when everyone is sleeping and right through the time when the whole world slows down, her donations for this came in like clockwork, with no deviation from the steady pace whatsoever. The only way that can happen is if a bot was set up to fake her getting donations from multiple people, and whoever set it up did not consider the fact that practically everything would come from America, and practically everyone is asleep at 3AM. LAST NIGHT IT SHOULD HAVE SLOWED DOWN. IT DID NOT. IT JUST MARCHED RIGHT TOWARD THE FINISH LIKE AN OBEDIENT SOLDIER. It went straight to 2.65 million by six AM. I can calculate: IT WILL GO TO 4.5 MILLION IN 28.125 HOURS. Oh, a few people will pitch in for real, so I’ll say 27 hours . . . . Yes folks, we are watching the election steal as it happens. They could not do it by threatening electors, so now we have this. And it is all based on false claims, because Michigan CANNOT BE HACKED. Michigan has a CERTIFIED [paper] VOTE. There is NO WAY THIS IS LEGIT. And that means ONE THING – there are liars doing it, powerful liars who know in advance they are going to find what they are looking for.”

Yesterday, the Wisconsin Elections Commission said it had received Stein’s petition for a recount.

What you can do:

(1) Spread the news by publicizing this post on social media and via email.

(2) Keep the recount honest by:

• Volunteering for the recount. Sign up here.

• Politely warning the election officials in the 3 battleground states that you’ll be watching:

  • Wisconsin: Ph: 1-866-VOTE-WIS; Email: elections@wi.gov

  • Michigan: Ph: (517) 373-2540; Twitter: @michsos; wesite: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-13162—,00.html

  • Pennsylvania: Ph: (717) 787-6458, (717) 787-5280: Twitter: @PAStateDept

My husband correctly stated that the two months prior to Trump being inaugurated will be very dangerous times.  I must agree with him because the satanic globalism billionaire goons and their minions will NEVER rest until they get their “power” back!

Why Is That?

Next, we have the truth about the death of a horrible dictator – Fidel Castro, yet pansies (like Colin Kaepernick) say the dumbest things!  Why?  He probably doesn’t  know (or, more likely refuses to acknowledge) the decades of suffering under Castro’s tyrannical communist rule!

Why Is That?

Kingsjester’s blog nails it with the truth, once again!

I could go on and on…but my savvy readers here know what’s going on and most of you are aware of the reasons for it.

While reading an article over at WND, I ran across some comments that explain why the globalists, often with differing agendas, unite together for the same cause.

Why Is That?

WND: Fight Over Gay Wedding Cake Given New Life

Now, this news report discusses a case in Northern Ireland. However, the same religious discrimination problems have come up here in the United States.

Excerpt:

The infamous Northern Ireland case penalizing a family baking company for refusing to promote “gay” marriage with a wedding cake may have a new life.

WND reported earlier when an appeals court in Belfast refused to offer relief from the penalties for Ashers Bakery in Northern Ireland for violating that nation’s nondiscrimination laws.

And it was reported that the owners were considering taking their fight to the European Court of Human Rights.

But now, according to the Belfast Telegraph, a door has opened.

Senior judges in Belfast say that a section of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 may give the McArther family, which owns Ashers Bakery, a path to the Supreme Court.

“You need to make a decision whether you wish to pursue it,” Judge Declan Morgan told lawyers for the family this week.

David Scoffield QC, for the McArthurs, told the court: “We are happy to look at that and confirm our submissions in writing.”

The Court of Appeal last month affirmed a fine for Ashers for discriminating against Gareth Lee by refusing to make a cake for a “gay” wedding.

The bakers said they didn’t care about, or even know about, his sexual choices, but the message was what their Christian faith would not allow them to promote.

Last year a Belfast County Court ruled the bakery discriminated against Lee on grounds of sexual orientation and religious belief or political opinion. The firm was also ordered to pay £500 compensation.

The family’s representatives explained the rejection of the cake order was solely because of the message that violated their faith – it had nothing to do with Lee himself.

John Larkin, Northern Ireland’s attorney general, backed the McArthurs. He said they should not be forced to endorse a message with which they disagree.

Officials with the Christian Institute, which took part in the fight on behalf of the family, have reported that Larkin also has the option of seeking higher court review, but that was on hold pending the family’s decision.

Simon Calvert, of the Institute, said the family’s representatives had asked the Court of Appeal whether there was any further appeal route available.

Read more at WND

Why Is That?

You may be asking, what does each of these separate incidents have in common?

Well, I think that the following comment thread over at WND explains it quite well:

Tatiana Covington

And this is all about a cake?

nomark to Tatiana Covington

No.  It has nothing to do with a cake.  It has to do with freedom of religion, freedom of speech and the right of religious conscience.

aurora9

I had once seen a video on my computer of a gay person who wanted to order a cake, with a gay inscription, at a muslim bakery.  The owner had directed him to a different bakery but was not prosecuted for it.  There is nothing fair about globalism and they lean in favor of Islam, as many of us have already witnessed!

nomark to aurora9

The reason for this is Christianity threatens globalism because it puts God first, family second and the state third.  That undermines them.  The reason globalists not only “tolerate” Muslims but in fact encourage them, is the globalists see Islam kinder spirit and global government is using Islam to destroy Christianity.  The globalist adhere to the tenant “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” and so embrace Islam (for now).

Also you can see how they have tried to associate radical Islam with all religions.  It didn’t work, in fact it back-fired, but that was the plan.

Recall HiLIARy Clinton stating that

“And deep-seated cultural codes and religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed.”

 

Go listen to the video where you can listen and watch her state this!

I STILL thank God every day that she lost the election!

The question, “Why Is That?” has now been answered.

Hat tip for graphic: The Common Sense Show

Update.  Since the graphic is blurry and difficult to read, here is what is written.

Progressive, Socialist, Globalism:

• Radical Socialist Globalism
• Increase Taxes/Regulations
• Economy/Jobs Collapse
• No Wall/ More Illegals/Refugees
• Amnesty in First 100 Days
• Domestic Terrorist Embeds
• More Expensive Obamacare
• Pro-Trans Pacific Partnership
• Debt:  20+ Trillion Near Default
• Email, Benghazi Scandals

*******

American Nationalism:

• Capitalism
• Reduce Taxes/Regulations
• Economy/ Jobs Explode
• Build Wall/ No Illegals/Refugees
• No Amnesty/No Free Ride
• Terrorists Destroyed
• Repeal Obamacare
• Anti-Trans Pacific Partnership
• Debt Eliminated
• No Scandals

 

Hat tips:

Fellowship of the Minds

Kingsjester’s blog

Hat tips to all additional links!

Liberal Hypocrisy: While Liberal “Entertainers” Try to Dictate What is “Morally Right” in NC, Muslims Prepare to Build an Islamic Museum on Ground Zero In NYC

This essay tells the truth about the liberal leftist hypocrisy and insanity that is being pushed upon America by B. Insane 0bama and his ilk. The terrible shame of the brain-dirting that has been done (especially to young people!) in this nation is so sadly evident in everything that Kingsjester’s blog discusses in this very important and informative post!

~ Christine

Kingsjester's Blog

Today’s Modern American Liberals, from President Barack Hussein Obama to the all-too-common Internet Troll, are continuing to fiddle around with “Gender Identity Rights”, while our nation, like Ancient Rome, burns.

CNSNews.com reports that

The pop group Maroon 5 on Friday joined the list of entertainers canceling appearances in North Carolina because of its law that denies anti-discrimination protections and dictates which restrooms transgender people can use.”This was a difficult decision for us to make as a band. We don’t want to penalize our fans in North Carolina by not performing for them, but in the end it comes down to what we feel is morally right,” the group said on its website.

The band led by Adam Levine, who doubles as a celebrity musician-coach on NBC’s “The Voice,” won’t appear Sept. 11 at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte or Sept. 12 at PNC Arena in Raleigh.

A spokesman for…

View original post 1,382 more words

Typical Liberal Lunatic “Logic”

Hat tip for graphic: Freedom Is Just Another Word and The Patriot Post.

Now THAT is funny!

However, the politics that they push aren’t so funny. Case in point.

Fox News.com: One million Americans vow to boycott Target over transgender bathrooms.  (Over 1 million have signed since this aired.)

Now, compare the video (at link above) of Dr. Keith Ablow vs. Montel Williams’ blather on the Kelly file last night who appears in that video clip (at link below) after North Carolina’s governor explains the solid logic on this issue that has served America since it’s founding.  Doesn’t it matter that such solid logic has existed among most sane human beings around the world for millennia?

Fox News.com: Kelly file interview with far leftist transgender maniac Montel Williams.

Montel…here’s the best argument against your typical liberal loony logic!

Also read: Fox News Opinion: The real reason why the North Carolina ‘bathroom bill’ debate is center stage by Keith Ablow

The real reason why the North Carolina ‘bathroom bill’ debate is center stage

The bathroom debate is really a debate about the fundamental way we Americans will define any truth.

Jhn 8:44

“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

Citizen Wells: Target boycott exceeds 1 million pledges, American Family Association online boycott signup, What if all men escort their family members and female friends in ladies restroom?, Target stock price falling.

If you think this issue is “harmless,” please see the following links provided by Citizen Wells blog:

Take Action

1. Sign a pledge to boycott Target now! Target should not allow men to enter the women’s restrooms and dressing rooms.”

“Here are examples of what Target’s policy can lead to:

Cross-dressing man arrested for filming Alabama woman in public bathroom
NY Daily News: Seattle man undresses in women’s locker room to test new transgender bathroom rule
Life Site News: Sexual predator jailed after claiming to be ‘transgender’ to assault women in shelter
KTLA.com: DA: Cross-Dressing Man Secretly Taped Women at Macy’s
Western Morning News: Cross-dresser branded ‘high risk’ to women
Abc7news.com: POLICE: CALIF. LOCKER ROOM SUSPECT USED DISGUISE
The Mercury News: Sex offender wearing fake breasts, wig arrested for loitering in womens’ restroom
UPI.com: Cross-dresser arrested in bath house
St. Petersburg Times: Cross-dressing man sentenced for battery

 

Hat tips to all links

Re-education Camp For Christian Bakers?

Colorado Court Approves Re-education Camp for Christian Baker

Excerpt:

from The Resurgent:

We are rapidly approaching a tipping point in America.

The day is coming, sooner than most think, when we will each have to choose whether to obey God or man, dictatorial bureaucrats or the Constitution, tyrannical judges or our own consciences.

The sooner we grasp this truth the better: simply because a court makes a ruling does not make it right.

Because a law exists is not sufficient reason to obey it.

When Pharaoh ordered all newborn boys to be slaughtered, the Hebrew midwives refused. When the law ordered Northerners to return runaway slaves, most refused. When the United States Supreme Court affirmed “separate but equal” as the law of the land, good citizens refused to comply and fought to end it.

So it is today. As Josiah Gilbert Holland said, “Freedom weeps, wrong rules the land, and waiting justice sleeps.”

The Colorado Supreme Court has chosen not to intervene on behalf of Jack Phillips who refused to decorate (not bake, but decorate) a cake for a same-sex union ceremony—when such unions were illegal in Colorado.

Erick and I spotlight this case in You Will Be Made to Care:

We have already seen how Jack Phillips Masterpiece Cakeshop in Colorado has been made to care by this wildfire burning through our culture. The details of the case are chilling. For years Phillips served both gay and straight customers equally. But when a gay couple insisted that Phillips bake a custom wedding cake for them in 2012, he declined.

According to an administrative law judge who reviewed the case, “Phillips believes that decorating cakes is a form of art, that he can honor God through his artistic talents, and that he would displease God by creating cakes for same-sex marriages.”

And get this: Phillips offered to sell the couple a cake he had already made that they could then customize as they desired. They refused, insisting that he be made to decorate it for them.

Phillips made his faith priorities clear: “I’m a man who is devoted to following Jesus Christ. He’s the one that’s in charge of all this…. It’s not up to the courts to decide what marriage is. It’s up to God to decide that. If we are living in obedience to Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Bible we are on the right side of history—no matter what they say.”

On August 13, 2015, a Colorado State Court of Appeals ruled Phillips must make cakes for gay weddings if he is to make any cakes at all.

His attorney Jeremy Tedesco said, “Government has a duty to protect people’s freedom to follow their beliefs personally and professionally rather than force them to adopt the government’s views.”

 

My comment there (currently in moderation):

on April 28, 2016 at 1:36 pm | Reply christinewjc
Your comment is awaiting moderation.

As a born-again, biblically based believer in Jesus Christ, I have been warning people about how far the vicious, radical, desperately wicked homosexual agenda proponents would push for such tyrannical positions that would inevitably bring about such hatred towards Christianity!*

Re-education camp for bakers? It’s so absurd!

Yes…the choice between following Holy God vs. the evil and deceitful hearts of men continues in the battle over our souls.

Jer 17:9

“The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?

Jer 17:10

I, the LORD, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,

*The Gay Agenda by Dr. Ronnie W. Floyd Book Review:

Five stars
FINALLY!
ByT. Wheeleron August 25, 2004

Format: Hardcover

Finally a book that exposes the gay agenda for what it is, and just what a great threat to this nation’s moral foundation it represents. It is a call for those who still know right from wrong to take a firm stand against this grievous threat against faith, marriage, and family. While we talk about the threat from terrorism, the war, and the state of our economy, we are ignoring a profound threat from within, as homosexuals seek to overturn every aspect of American life and insinuate their perverse lifestyle throughout all of society. Dr. Floyd is a courageous man for writing this book, and I believe it should be required reading for all Americans. (…)

(Even though this book review and warning about the radical homosexual agenda was written back in 2004, we are now experiencing this grievous threat against faith, marriage, and family in a more profound way than ever before!)

 

Hat tips to all links.

P.S. There are many more articles, essays, and links to read about this issue over at True Discernment.com: Category: Days of Noah.