In the Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Human Rights Commission case which was heard before the Supreme Court last year, Christians around the world were vindicated by the Court’s decision that Jack Phillips had been treated unfairly by the Commission.
One of the key aspects of the First Amendment —Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion—is that the government is prevented from taking our religion into account.
So the Justices were correct in identifying that the Colorado Human Rights Commission had violated Phillip’s rights by showing considerable animus towards his faith.
Unfortunately, despite being told by the highest court in the land that they would have to treat Phillips more fairly the next time, there certainly was a next time, but Phillips is taking matters into his own hands this time.
He’s suing them, and this week, the court case moved forward.
The Christian Post reports:
Colorado Christian baker Jack Phillips can continue his lawsuit against the state, accusing them of anti-religious bias against him for refusing to make cakes that support transgender identity and gay marriage, a federal court has ruled.
Judge Wiley Y. Daniel of the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado issued an order last Friday allowing Phillips’ lawsuit against Colorado and its Civil Rights Commission to continue.
In his order, Judge Daniel did grant the Civil Rights Division Director Aubrey Elenis’ motion to dismiss Phillips’ claims against them for compensatory, punitive and nominal damages, and the motion to dismiss Phillips’ claims for prospective relief against Governor John Hickenlooper.
However, Daniel denied the motion to dismiss the other aspects of Phillips’ litigation, among them being his claim of having the standing to sue the defendants and Attorney General Cynthia Coffman’s motion to dismiss the claims against her.
“Colorado is acting in bad faith and with bias toward Jack,” says ADF Senior Counsel Jim Campbell, who argued the lawsuit in front of the district court last month, in a statement Monday.
“The same agency that the Supreme Court rebuked as hostile to Jack Phillips has remained committed to treating him unequally and forcing him to express messages that violate his religious beliefs,” he added.
“We look forward to moving forward with this lawsuit to ensure that Jack isn’t forced to create custom cakes that express messages in conflict with his faith.”
Pray for Jack as he takes on this blatantly biased commission and defends his First Amendment rights once and for all!
