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Death of Freedom of Religion: Compelled to
Violate Conscience
What happens when the
State compels you to allow your customers to have sex with your wife? What
would you do? Of course, you would oppose such a move, even if you lived in a
society where the “proper” thing to do was to allow this. I know this sounds
absurd, but there have been States that have required this, perhaps not for
everyone, but at least for those in power.
You would protest that
you have an unalienable right to guard your own family and to live by your
beliefs. However, reasonable this might sound, what is reasonable no longer
applies. Take this example:
- A Kentucky Human Rights Commission examiner has ordered
a Christian screen printing company to print t-shirts that bear
pro-homosexual messages and undergo diversity training for declining to
make shirts for a “gay pride” celebration two years ago.
- The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Human Rights
Commission issued the recommendations of its hearing examiner on Tuesday,
declaring that Hands On Originals–a company that identifies as “Christian
outfitters” on the home page of its website–violated the Lexington
Fairness Ordinance by passing on the requested order because of its
religious convictions.
- The Gay and Lesbian Services Organization of Lexington
(GLSO) had wanted the company to print t-shirts for the 2012 Lexington Gay
Pride Festival. When manager Blaine Adamson declined the order due to the
company’s biblical convictions not to be partaker of another man’s sins (1
Timothy 5:22, Ephesians 5:7), GLSO filed a complaint with the HRC.
- HRC examiner Greg Munson ruled this week that Hands On
Originals violated the law by not printing the shirts for the event.
It is one thing to
refuse to serve gays because they are gay, but this isn’t the issue here. The
owner, Blaine Adamson, explained that he couldn’t partake in sin:
- “I want the truth to come out—it’s not that we have a
sign on the front door that says, ‘No Gays Allowed… We’ll work with
anybody. But if there’s a specific message that conflicts with my
convictions, then I can’t promote that.”
Should a gay
shirt-maker be compelled to print shirts for a pro-family conference reading,
“God will only sanction heterosexual marriage!”? Of course not! Or should a
Jewish owner be compelled to print, “Hitler understood the Jews”? Or a Muslim forced
to print, “The Koran is Wrong!”?
No one should be
forced to print or utter an oath in contradiction to what they believe. Such a
requirement is dehumanizing and can only breed conflict! What is the State’s
compelling need to coerce such behavior? Of course, there is none, other than
the State’s own ideological militancy to force their ideology on the rest of
us:
- In his decision, Munson ruled that Hands On Originals
must accept orders to print t-shirts or other products that bear messages
advocating for homosexuality, and mandated the company to undergo
diversity training.
It is not enough for
the State to deprive Hands On Originals of their freedom to practice
their faith. They must now adopt the State religion and be sent for
indoctrination, “diversity training” – nothing short of a Maoist tactic! How
could Munson possibly justify such a decision? By misrepresenting the
“offense”:
- “The evidence of record shows that the respondent
discriminated against GLSO because of its members’ actual or imputed
sexual orientation by refusing to print and sell to them the official
shirts for the 2012 Lexington Pride Festival.”
- “The respondent is permanently enjoined from
discriminating against individuals because of their actual or imputed
sexual orientation or gender identity,” he wrote. “The respondent is
ordered to participate in diversity training to be conducted by the
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission within 12 months of
the issuance of this order.”
What! Hands On didn’t
discriminate against gays but against the gays’ demand that they
violate their faith!
How can such rulings not
breed cynicism and contempt for the authorities who bring about such deceptive
and prejudicial decisions! How can this nation flourish, if it reneges on the
basic values and freedoms that have built this civilization! We need to pray
for a Spirit revival. Our nation has so turned against Christ!
This is a MUST-SEE video!
· http://www.atimetospeak.com/#
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