Jack Phillips, Masterpiece Cakeshop Owner, Says He'd Rather Go To Jail Than Make Gay Wedding Cake

[Behind the Aegis]

The Colorado baker who was ordered to serve gay couples by a state judge says he'd rather go to jail than prepare a same-sex wedding cake.

"I do what I do because I love doing what I do and I believe it's what God's designed for me to do," Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, told Fox News' Elisabeth Hasselbeck via Raw Story. "I don't plan on giving up my religious beliefs ... I don't feel that I should participate in their wedding, and when I do a cake, I feel like I'm participating in the ceremony or the event or the celebration that the cake is for."

He then added, "My priorities would be towards my faith rather than towards my safety or security."

Phillips' latest remarks echo statements he's made in previous interviews. Last year, he told local CBS affilate KCNC-TV that he has no problem with lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) customers or staff members -- but nonetheless does not support gay marriage.

"If it came to that point, we would close down the bakery before we would compromise our beliefs, so that may be what it comes to," Phillips said. "We'll see."

more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/10/jack-phillips-gay-wedding-cake_n_4420252.html?ref=topbar

[elleng]

1. Fine, jail him

and close down the bakery.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

2. Why are people so stupid? nt

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

3. Send him to prison.

He may meet someone in there and need a cake of his own!

[nomorenomore08]

8. Meh... I despise the guy as much as you do, but that's not really helpful...

[Lint Head]

4. Don't let the jailhouse door hit you in the ass when they close it up and lock it tight!

[1StrongBlackMan]

5. Sorry to frustrate ...

the martyrDUMB of the masterpiece Cakeshop guy, but you don't go to jail for violating civil law ... you just are subject to fines and damages verdicts.

[dballance]

6. Same sorts of reasons used to justify segregated lunch counters.

Segregation, whites-only establishments were justified in the same manner. It wasn't right then and it's not right now. He could use the same argument to refuse service to atheists, Muslims, or any non-Christian.

[nomorenomore08]

9. If your religion prohibits you from serving a segment of the public, then find a profession

where you don't have to serve the public, genius!

[dballance]

7. Link to discussion of the ruling. Great background and reasoning.

This article at TPM explains the background and the judge's ruling. In my opinion the judge got it all correct. Especially since there is a law against discrimination based on sexual orientation in CO.

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/12/06/3035121/colorado-bakery-broke-law/

PDF of the entire ruling: http://aclu-co.org/sites/default/files/Signed%20Initial%20Decision%20Cake%20Case%20No%20%20CR%202013-0008.pdf

On edit. If you look at the complaint the bakery is full corporation, not just the owners doing business as a sole proprietorship. This makes the bakeshop a completely separate entity from the owners - an artificial entity. One which cannot possibly be seen to be able to exercise religion and, therefore, have religious freedoms. This is the same issue with the Hobby Lobby that's coming before the SCOTUS.

[joeybee12]

10. What's with this Christian fascists and their need to be persecuted/punished? He can't go to jail

over this, although he seems to be fantasizing over that prospect.

[Amimnoch]

11. I wonder if he's ever made cakes for the previously married?

Has he ever made cakes for those who are on their second, third, or more marriages? How conflicted was his religious values for those?

Has he ever made cakes for men who have had sex with virgins, yet did not marry them, or recompense the virgins father for her value?

If he can POSITIVELY show that he has equally applied his religious belief across the board, I do actually kind of support his position. I SERIOUSLY doubt that he has ever even questioned the previous divorce status, or the virginity status of his other customers, and therefore this isn't his religious belief at play, it's plain and simple bigotry.

[Kurovski]

12. God is not impressed.