Crossed

A local pastor and a local atheist debate Refusing Service to Gays – Religious Freedom or Discrimination?

July 24, 2015

"Rub-a-dub-dub, three men in a tub. And who do you think they be? The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker. Turn ’em out, knaves all three!"

So why were these knaves turned out? Were they unscrupulous businessmen, or was there something more? As a child, I didn’t give much thought to such questions.

We live in a different world. The blurred lines between public and private have us asking all sorts of questions. One particularly vexing question for me involves another baker, and probably some butchers, candlestick makers, florists, photographers, and caterers too!

Recently, Aaron and Melissa Klein, former owners of the "Sweet Cakes by Melissa" bakery, in Gresham, Oregon, were ordered by Brad Avakian, the Oregon Labor Commissioner, to pay $135,000 to Rachel and Laurel Bowman- Cryer. Why? Rachel and Laurel, two women, were getting married. When asked to provide the cake, the Klein’s declined on religious grounds.

In a perfect world, the Klein’s would have made the cake. "We make cakes. What people do with them is their business." Or, the Bowman- Cryers would have found another baker. "Do we really want someone who is against samesex marriage making our wedding cake?"

But the world isn’t perfect and Oregon law doesn’t allow discrimination. Mr. Avakian’s ruling was right. However, I hope Mr. Avakian and the state of Oregon have good lawyers; the ruling is discriminatory!

The Kleins suffered hate crimes, were discriminated against, and were forced to close their business because of their faith. Is their suffering – mental and emotional – any less valid?

Religious freedom is equally protected, not only federally, but under the same Oregon law. The lines may be blurred, but justice is clear.

I understand the underlying reasons for a business entity practicing their religious beliefs.

What I don’t understand is how they determine which of those they will abide by and which they will ignore. The Catholic faith is adamantly opposed to birth control, yet over 68% of practicing Catholics disregard those instructions. According to the Bible, Jesus abhorred violence, yet many fundamentalists readily approve of war, concealed guns, and extreme police aggression.

Any business that refuses to serve people based upon sexual orientation is doing nothing more than fabricating an excuse to discriminate. These same people would never refuse to bake a cake or create a floral arrangement for tax evaders, thieves, liars, or adulterers, who all violate tenants of every religion. No, they refuse service to the LGBT community because they are personally disgusted with, "that type of behavior."

Why didn’t the gay couple that was refused a wedding cake from an Oregon bakery simply head for another bakery? That’s like asking why Rosa Parks didn’t just head to the back of the bus, sit down, and shut up. We should applaud that couple for having the fortitude to withstand the social media attacks and death threats during their two-year ordeal. Oregon has clearly stated that gender discrimination violates the law.

The recent Supreme Court ruling for the legality of gay marriage should be enough to put gender discrimination in its place, along with "race, color, religion, or national origin" as outlined in the civil rights act of 1964. While thieves and adulterers harm others with their "sins," exactly how does a loving couple wanting to sanctify and celebrate their relationship harm anyone?

Gary’s Response

Since this event took place in Oregon, the only discrimination that occurred was on the part of the Kleins. Given the current and welcome change in climate granting equal status to non-traditional marriages, any appeal is doomed to failure.

As with other social improvements that run counter to religious dogma – divorce, equality for women (working on it, at least), the horror of planting your field with two kinds of seed (Leviticus 19:19), and a multitude of other inane practices, gender discrimination will fall by the wayside.

Progress has a way of diminishing the ravages of obsessive religious belief. As I have stated before, everyone should be free to believe whatever she or he wants, unless those beliefs restrict others. This is a perfect example.

Bill’s Response

"God, alone, is Lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are in anything contrary to his Word, or beside it, in matters of faith or worship"¦" (Presbyterian Church, Form of Government, 1788)

These words reflect what Presbyterians believe about religious liberty and the spirit in which it is defended by our nation’s Constitution. People are free to worship and serve God, as they are so called. Neither the government nor the church may bind their hearts and minds. Gary is right. Some Christians cherry pick. All stumble. But the point is we must be free to get it wrong – or right! People disagree on homosexuality. Thank God we have the freedom to do so.

Where We Agree

Gary and Bill agree that protecting civil rights and preserving religious freedom can be a challenging task in a pluralistic world, but conversations marked by mutual respect, and a desire for deeper understanding of those who don’t share our views, are vital for creating solutions when conflicts arise.