Christian Family face possible legal action

Not a lawyer but I believe the law say that that someone should not be denied a service on the grounds of sexuality. The baker did not refuse to make the cake for a gay couple but declined to decorate it with wording that was against his beliefs. He did not say he hated gay people or say that any one else should. I thought in this country we had the right to our own beliefs without fear of being punished .

Yes. I agree with that.

But then again, it was others' sexuality being portrayed on the cake, not theirs. They are in the busines of selling cakes . It's against the law to discriminate.

[wrings hands with indecision but then remembers she's not the judge. (phew!)]

Wonder if they'd take an order for a 'gay' cake if the message were more subtle?
Like my daughter's cake decorated with 2 tiny bride figures.

mcem the ACTIVIST was not asking for a 'gay marriage/civil partnership' wedding cake - he wanted a cake with 'a slogan' that the bakers found unacceptable - a subtle differance
the bakers were probably set up to make a point - a bit underhand IMO.
why involve Bert and Ernie? - they are children's characters

Of course they have not been treated unfairly. They were the ones who were quite happy to treat others unfairly and cannot understand why other people do not see this as well!!! They run a business and as such have to run it according to the law. The law says that they must not discriminate on grounds of (amongst other things) sexuality. I can understand that they do not agree with gay marriage. Nobody is forcing them to have one. Just obey the law. Just like everybody else. And so what if it was a "set up"? If they were obeying the law it would not have mattered. And why the problem with Bert and Ernie? Would it have been made if it just had the words on it?

I wish I could be that sure about it.

Must Christians be aware that, if they set up in business, they may have to go against religious principles that they hold dear? Is that fair on Christians.

I don't think this one is solveable.

It's a pity that Christians aren't so devout about other Christian principles such as "thou shalt not kill", "love thy neighbour as thyself", etc. What a lot of fuss about a cake - it's hardly asking someone to commit murder is it?

Yes. It is a lot of fuss about a cake. But the fuss wasn't made by the bakers. They simply refused the order.

I think people should have the right to live their whole lives according to their religious principles. Their whole lives. No matter what the religion is. So long as it is doing no harm to others.

The problem is solvable if everyone abides by the principle of not discriminating against people or things that are doing them no harm even though they may profoundly disagree with those people's choices. Words on a cake do not harm Christian beliefs or principles.

Some states in the US are trying to pass laws that allow Christians to discriminate in their businesses. If everyone wanted such laws we'd be back to uncivilised, intolerant societies.

Icing a slogan on a cake is not pretending to support or agree with it - it's called carrying out your business according to the law.

But who makes the law? And do they have the right to do so where something as personal as religion is concerned?

Ah - I see. Religious people should be allowed to discriminate against others ( and be discriminated against themselves )?

This is a good way to look at it, I think.

now that the 'gay rights' movement have got everything they asked for and more
will they be less belligerant and accept that everyone has freedom of thought/religious belief without the 'straight' majority being shouted down and pilloried.

mollie65 I am aware of the situation and was questioning the level of subtlety needed to make the order acceptable. It's pretty obvious that anyone ordering a cake like my daughter's is supporting gay marriage but perhaps the diff*e*rence is simply that one is expressed in words and the other in symbols. Rather nit-picking don't you think?

You sound pretty belligerent to me mollie65. I guess you're not a great fan of "gay rights".

Please note that my post was not in any way belligerent nor am I proposing that you should be shouted down or pilloried. My daughter and daughter-in-law have always supported freedom of religious and political belief.
If only everyone were so broad-minded and tolerant.
However if you find their happiness offensive, so be it!

As someone else put it, would a Muslim business be prosecuted for refusing to supply a cake with a cartoon of the prophet on the top?

Good point!

What equality legislation would that be contravening?

I agree very good point Apricot

OK then, Eloethan, would a muslim business have been successfully prosecuted for refusing to supply the cake in the OP?