Robert & Cynthia Gifford
Here we go again! The oppression of Christians continues in the “land of the free” with the New York Supreme Court ruling against a couple who refused to host a gay-wedding on their privately owned land, charging them with being guilty of “sexual orientation discrimination” and ordering them to pay a $13,000 fine.
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a non-profit law firm dedicated to fighting for religious liberty, is reporting on the case concerning Robert and Cynthia Gifford who own and operate Liberty Ridge Farm near Albany, New York, who are the latest victims of the culture wars.
On Sept. 25, 2012, Melisa McCarthy called Cynthia Gifford, inquiring about the use of the farm for her upcoming same-sex ceremony. Because of her Christian faith’s teachings on marriage, Cynthia politely told McCarthy that she and her husband don’t host and coordinate same-sex ceremonies but left open an invitation to visit the farm to consider it as a potential reception site. Instead, McCarthy and her partner filed a complaint with the Division of Human Rights. The Division found the couple guilty as charged.
Last week, the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, upheld the ruling and the fines, allowing the government to impose a hefty fine for refusing to coordinate a ceremony that conflicts with their conscience.
ADF attorneys argued that, just as the First Amendment prohibits the government from forcing an individual to salute the flag in school, it also prohibits the government from forcing a wedding coordinator like Cynthia to plan and participate in a ceremony that violates her faith. The appeals court decision, however, sidestepped that argument and is allowing the government coercion to continue.
Liberty Ridge Farm
“All Americans should be free to live and work according to their beliefs, especially in our own backyards,” said Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Caleb Dalton, who argued before the court on behalf of the couple in Gifford v. Erwin. “The government went after both this couple’s freedom and their ability to make a living simply for adhering to their faith on their own property.”
“We had hoped that the court would recognize that the government has clearly gone too far,” said co-counsel James Trainor who is one of more than 3,000 private attorneys affiliated with the ADF. “The Constitution prohibits the government from forcing anyone to help communicate messages that conflict with their core beliefs about marriage. The Giffords welcome all people to the farm, but not all messages or events.”
This case is far from over, however.
“The court should have rejected this unwarranted and unconstitutional government intrusion,” Dalton said, “so we will consult with our client regarding appeal.”
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