Jack PhillipsA Colorado bakery owned by a Christian family is refusing to comply with orders from the state of Colorado that they change their policies and attend mandatory "training sessions" after refusing to bake wedding cakes for same-sex couples.
Todd Starnes of Fox News is reporting that Jack Phillips, owner of the Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado, is being pressured by the state to undergo comprehensive training on the state's anti-discrimination laws after losing a lawsuit brought by a same-sex couple who accused him of discrimination when he refused to bake a cake for their "wedding" reception.
In addition to the training sessions, which he and his staff must undergo, Phillips will also be required to submit quarterly reports for the next two years to the state's Civil Rights Commission in order to confirm that he is not turning away customers based on their sexual orientation.
“They are turning people of faith into religious refugees. ... Is this the society that we want to live in – where people of faith are driven out of business?” asks Nicolle Martin, an attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom who is defending Phillips.
Martin was clearly appalled at the ruling's Orwellian requirements.
“There will be some reporting requirements so that Jack can demonstrate that he doesn’t exercise his belief system anymore – that he has divested himself of his beliefs,” she said. “We consider this reporting to be aimed at rehabilitating Jack so that he has the right thoughts. That’s offensive to everything America stands for.”
The ruling is even more outrageous when one considers that same-sex marriage isn't even legal in Colorado!
Meanwhile, Phillips told Starnes he has no intention of changing any of his policies.
“My old ones are pretty adequate as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “I don’t plan on giving up my faith and changing because of that.”
Phillips, who has been in business for 40 years, isn't worried about what the state might do.
“My God is bigger than any bullies they’ve got,” he said. “I don’t worry about it. I honor my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be true to what He wants me to do.”
He added: “My 87-year-old mom works here and she says she’s not being rehabilitated.”
If the state should try to force him, “there’s civil disobedience,” Phillips told Starnes. “We’ll see what happens. I’m not giving up my faith. Too many people have died for this faith to give it up that easily.”
The good news is that the controversy hasn't cost Phillips much business. In fact, he's been selling so many cookies and brownies that he's been able to stop baking wedding cakes, at least temporarily.
“Obey Christ rather than worry about what man can do to you,” Phillips said. © All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
