Gov't can't force Christians to make gay wedding videos, appeals court rules

[SirLinksALot]

SOURCE: CHRISTIAN POST

URL: https://www.christianpost.com/news/govt-cant-force-christians-to-make-gay-wedding-videos-appeals-court-rules.html


An appeals court has ruled in favor of a Christian couple who oversee a film company that were told by Minnesota officials that they must film same-sex weddings despite religious objections.

A three judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit decided last Friday that the Minnesota Human Rights Act violated the First Amendment rights of Carl and Angel Larsen of Telescope Media Group.

The decision largely overturned a lower court ruling against the Larsens and remanded their request for an injunction against the MHRA back to the district court level.

Circuit Judge David Stras, author of the court opinion, wrote that “antidiscrimination laws, as critically important as they are, must yield to the Constitution.”

“Indeed, if Minnesota were correct, there is no reason it would have to stop with the Larsens. In theory, it could use the MHRA to require a Muslim tattoo artist to inscribe ‘My religion is the only true religion’ on the body of a Christian if he or she would do the same for a fellow Muslim, or it could demand that an atheist musician perform at an evangelical church service,” wrote Judge Stras.

“The district court also ruled that the Larsens could not seek relief on various other constitutional theories. We largely agree that these claims fail. But one—the free-exercise claim—can proceed because it is intertwined with their free-speech claim.”

Circuit Judge Jane Kelly authored an opinion that concurred in part and dissented in part, arguing that while objections to same-sex marriage are protected by the First Amendment, such protections should not apply to businesses.

“The Larsens remain free to communicate any message they desire—about same-sex marriage or any other topic—or no message at all,” wrote Judge Kelly.

“What they cannot do is operate a public accommodation that serves customers of one sexual orientation but not others. And make no mistake, that is what today’s decision affords them license to do.”

In December 2016, the Larsens filed a lawsuit against the MHRA's ban on sexual orientation discrimination, arguing that the measure would force them to film same-sex weddings.

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[goatprairie]

Judge Jane Kelly is an idiot who doesn't understand the first amendment. She would force Christian businesses to offer their services to satanists, weird sexers, and other oddballs.
Thank  God the other judges overruled her.

[Wingnut]

Judge Jane Kelly is an idiot who doesn't understand the first amendment. She would force Christian businesses to offer their services to satanists, weird sexers, and other oddballs.
Thank  God the other judges overruled her.

I agree with that assessment.  She's a bloody moron too. 

[verga]

There is no good legitimate reason to hire someone that objects to an aspect of your life and force them to participate in it.
There are however a number of bad reasons to:
1) Try to prove a stupid point
2) Try to make money off it
3) Try to get famous
4) But the most common reason, Just to prove you are a complete @$$HOLE.

[txradioguy]

Outstanding!!!

[Bigun]

Hallelujah!!!  Somebody finally got it right!