No One Should Be Forced to Choose Between Their Faith and Their Livelihood by First Liberty Briefing

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of Jack Phillips, a Colorado cake artist who politely declined to create a cake that violated his conscience. Learn more at FirstLiberty.org/Briefing. A cake artist from Colorado, Jack Phillips enjoys designing and creating works of art that you can eat.  But, like every good artist, Jack knows his limits. When asked to create a customized wedding cake for a relationship his faith does not recognize, he politely declined, just like he does when the confectionary request contemplates alcohol, drugs, or other elements that prick his conscience.  Still, someone complained.  That complaint turned into hearings before commissioners that were supposed to judge the complaint with neutrality.  Instead, at least one of the commissioners disparaged Jack’s faith, explaining, “religion has been used to justify all kinds of discrimination throughout history” including, he added slavery and the holocaust. He then intoned that Jack’s faith is “one of the most despicable pieces of rhetoric that people can use.”  Not surprisingly, Jack lost his case. That is, until it went to the Supreme Court of the United States.  There, by a vote of 7 to 2, the Justices explained that the State of Colorado showed an obvious lack of neutrality toward the religion of one of its citizens. That, Justice Kennedy explained, was “inappropriate for a Commission charged with the solemn responsibility of fair and neutral enforcement” of the law. No one in America should be forced by the government to choose between their faith and their livelihood.  Not even cake artists. To learn how First Liberty is protecting religious liberty for all Americans, visit FirstLiberty.org.