“WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has turned down an appeal from a commercial photography business in New Mexico that objects to taking pictures of same-sex wedding ceremonies.
The justices on Monday left in place a state Supreme Court ruling that said Elane Photography violated a state anti-discrimination law when it refused to work for a same-sex couple who wanted pictures of their commitment ceremony.
Elane Photography co-owner Elaine Huguenin said taking the photos would violate her religious beliefs. She said she also has a right of artistic expression under the First Amendment that allows her to choose what pictures to take, or refrain from taking.”
The comments on ACLJ are fascinating. While I refuse to consider the refusal to take money from someone as discrimination, this is a core beliefs issue. Historically, discrimination laws were put in place to protect unfair treatment of people because of who they were, because they are not able to change. The extension of this to discriminate on how people behave is illogical, and will cause chaos in the worst way. Think about this for a moment. Can’t I refuse to do business with someone because I disagree with their politics, or just don’t like their attitude? Is the government going to force me to buy from all the poorly run companies? What happens if one of my employees decides to verbally abuse a customer, and then when I fire them, they cry out for discrimination against them because they were born belligerent?
This issue will never be addressed in this country while we excuse people from their sins (including but not limited to alcoholism and immorality) because they were born that way.
I think we have established that the response by the government is unamerican. But is the response by the photographers unchristian? WWJD? Jesus was constantly harassed by the pharisees for eating with tax collectors and sinners. Would Jesus and Joseph refused to construct furniture for an unrepentent sinner?
I don’t think it is unchristian at all. When you are photographing an event, you are participating in that event, and silently blessing and validating it by your participation. What if you as a photographer were asked to take pictures of some guy’s bachelor party and you were told in advance that there were going to be strippers there? Would it be unchristian of you to decline the business? I don’t think so. Ephesians 5:11 says “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness”. In my book a gay wedding is blasphemy against the creator. I wouldn’t attend one or have anything to do with one. However if I were a furniture salesman I would not refuse to sell furniture to a gay couple. I think there is a huge distinction.