COURTS Jack Phillips now 2-for-2 against Colorado Civil Rights Commission


The legal group battling on behalf of a Christian baker in Colorado says the state civil rights commission has chosen to drop its most recent charges against Jack Phillips in light of new evidence of the state's continuing hostility toward religious freedom.
"The state's demonstrated and ongoing hostility toward Jack because of his beliefs is undeniable," says attorney Kristen Waggoner, senior vice president of Alliance Defending Freedom.
Waggoner is referring to newly discovered statements from a public meeting in June 2018 during which two members of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission voiced support for the following statement by Diann Rice, a previous member of the Commission, made in 2015:
"I would also like to reiterate what we said in the hearing … in the last meeting [concerning Jack Phillips]: Freedom of religion and religion has been used to justify all kinds of discrimination throughout history, whether it be slavery, whether it be the Holocaust, whether it be …. I mean, we can list hundreds of situations where freedom of religion has been used to justify discrimination, and to me it is one of the most despicable pieces of rhetoric that people can use … to use their religion to hurt others."
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and attorneys representing Phillips said they mutually agreed to end two legal actions, including a federal lawsuit Phillips filed accusing the state of waging a "crusade to crush" him by pursuing a civil rights complaint over a so-called gender transition cake. Phillips' attorneys dubbed the agreement a victory for the baker. Weiser, a Democrat, said both sides "agreed it was not in anyone's best interest to move forward with these cases."
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At the June 2018 meeting – when commissioners were discussing the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Phillips' favor handed down just days earlier – Commissioners Rita Lewis and Carol Fabrizio indicated they had no problem with Rice's 2015 remarks and supported her contention:
"I support [Rice] and her comments. I don't think she said anything wrong," stated Lewis.
"I also very much stand behind [her] statements … I was actually proud of what she said, and I agree with her … I think it was the right thing," said Fabrizio.
ADF had filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Phillips when the state continued to prosecute him for his beliefs – even after the Supreme Court decision in which the high court had sternly condemned Rice's remarks. But today the Commission dismissed its case against Phillips, which the state launched after the Christian cake artist was accused of discrimination when he refused to design a cake to celebrate a gender transition. “This is the second time the state has launched a failed effort to prosecute him," Waggoner concludes. "While it finally appears to be getting the message that its anti-religious hostility has no place in our country, the state's decision to target Jack has cost him more than six-and-a-half years of this life, forcing him to spend that time tied up in legal proceedings."
“ADF had filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Phillips when the state continued to prosecute him for his beliefs – even after the Supreme Court decision in which the high court had sternly condemned Rice's remarks. But today the Commission dismissed its case against Phillips, which the state launched after the Christian cake artist was accused of discrimination when he refused to design a cake to celebrate a gender transition. “This is the second time the state has launched a failed effort to prosecute him," Waggoner concludes. "While it finally appears to be getting the message that its anti-religious hostility has no place in our country”
All the un-elected commission had to do was to keep their mouths shut, but progressives can't restrain their hatred & intolerance
All too true! Well said.
Like it or not, the statement is correct. I agree with it as well.
The people arguing against it, arguing for the right to discriminate are the problem.
“Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and attorneys representing Phillips said they mutually agreed to end two legal actions, including a federal lawsuit Phillips filed accusing the state of waging a "crusade to crush" him by pursuing a civil rights complaint over a so-called gender transition cake.
Phillips' attorneys dubbed the agreement a victory for the baker. Weiser, a Democrat, said both sides "agreed it was not in anyone's best interest to move forward with these cases."
No matter what was said by an attorney, he did not win.
Nobody wins with discrimination, other than supposedly God. The couples are offended, the baker doesn't get to sell a cake, and apparently that makes a little invisible wizard in the sky happy.
"Freedom of religion and religion has been used to justify all kinds of discrimination throughout history, whether it be slavery, whether it be the Holocaust, whether it be …. I mean, we can list hundreds of situations where freedom of religion has been used to justify discrimination, and to me it is one of the most despicable pieces of rhetoric that people can use … to use their religion to hurt others."
Can anyone provide any evidence to the contrary? As far as I can tell, that is an absolutely factual statement.
How dare someone disagree with that.
They must be run out on a rail.
Bigots on a human rights commission.
That pretty much says it all. That’s what they and their allies are.