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Religious Liberties

Gay Rights and Religious Liberties (Part 2)

Churches should be allowed to discriminate, but not in the public square.
Gay Rights and Religious Liberties (Part 2)

As mentioned before, there is common agreement between us about protecting clergy and religious institutions from having to participate in the celebration and/or blessing of a same-gender marriage, or forcing any church/synagogue/mosque to host such an event against the teaching of that religious body.

However, when we expand the conversation to include florists and bakers, photographers and innkeepers – all of whom operate in the marketplace and are legally required to serve the public without discrimination – our common ground might begin to narrow. Some conservatives have argued that conscience should trump convenience. So, if a florist has a religious objection to providing flowers for a same gender wedding, the argument goes, the couple should simply go elsewhere and find a willing florist. But suppose a florist, on religious grounds, were to object to an interracial marriage? Or an interfaith marriage?

Let's be clear, in jurisdictions that have no anti-discrimination ...

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