WASHINGTON – The Colorado Court of Appeals ruled today that a Colorado cake shop violated the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act when it refused to sell a wedding cake to a same-sex couple. Most importantly, the court ruled that the cake shop’s refusal to serve a same-sex couple was not a protected form of religious expression. Following this ruling, Rabbi Jack Moline, executive director of Interfaith Alliance, released this statement:
“Today’s victory is an affirmation of the vision of religious freedom that Interfaith Alliance, and many others, champions. The First Amendment is the basic compact of our society: each of us is granted the freedom to worship as we see fit, each of us must respect the right of others to do otherwise. Religious freedom is not a license to discriminate, religious freedom is not the ability to opt out of laws you find disagreeable.
“Too many on the Religious Right have tried to argue otherwise. Most recently Russell Moore, of the Southern Baptist Convention, has exploited his community’s fears that increased legal protections for the LGBT community will jeopardize church autonomy and individual conscience. These opponents of religious freedom seem to believe in the sanctity of their own First Amendment rights while blatantly ignoring, if not outright violating, the rights of others. They want all of the freedom, with none of the responsibility that the constitution demands. In short, they want to have their cake and eat it too.
“I hope that today’s victory is a rebuke to those efforts to debase religious freedom into a sectarian, partisan agenda.”
Interfaith Alliance celebrates religious freedom by championing individual rights, promoting policies that protect both religion and democracy, and uniting diverse voices to challenge extremism. Founded in 1994, Interfaith Alliance brings together members from 75 faith traditions as well as those without a faith tradition to protect faith and freedom. For more information visit www.interfaithalliance.org.