Freedom to Bake

            The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday is a win for freedom of religion. Jack Phillips won another round against the State of Colorado. He has fought for the freedom to use his baking skills in accordance to his religious beliefs for the past six and a half years against the government of his state.

            The first round ended up in the Supreme Court where he won with a 7-2 decision on June 26, 2018. Fred Lucas at The Daily Signal reported that Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote, “The Civil Rights Commission’s treatment of his case has some elements of a clear and impermissible hostility toward the sincere religious beliefs that motivated [Phillips’] objection.”

            Is it a coincidence that on the same day that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Phillips for his refusal to bake a same-sex wedding cake, an attorney went to his Masterpiece Cakeshop to request that he bake a gender transition cake – one with pink on the inside and blue on the outside? Phillips again refused to participate in an activity that was against his religious beliefs, and the Colorado Civil Rights Commission sued him again. 

            Phillips, in turn, filed a federal suit against the commission. He dropped his suit against the state officials after they agreed to drop their suit against him. Hopefully, they will stop trying to force him to violate his religious beliefs. He hopes to be able to move forward with his life and business and issued this statement last week.

I have and will always serve everyone who comes into my shop; I simply can’t celebrate events or express messages that conflict with my religious beliefs….

Today is a win for freedom. … I’m very grateful and looking forward to serving my customers as I always have: with love and respect.

            The Colorado Civil Rights Commission may have come to their senses, or they may just be afraid of sanctions coming down from the Supreme Court. Whatever the reason, it is good that Phillips was spared further battles with them.