Poor Indiana. The state passes a law similar to those of 19 other states and the federal government, then after it’s adopted the outrage hits. Usually disputes of this sort happen during the legislative debate.
Of course the law is a version of the the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), first signed by President Bill Clinton in 1993. This was the law that was the basis of the Hobby Lobby decision in the U.S. Supreme Court. Hobby Lobby won because the High Court found that closely held corporations could assert a claim under RFRA. As a result, Indiana included language expressly re-stating the Supreme Court decision. So what’s the big deal? To me, not much. Gay activists, though, take a quite different view. I think they know better and this is just a political ploy.
I smell a set-up — a set-up where Indiana has been forced to back down, thereby creating a dramatic embarrassment for Indiana and a victory for gay activists.
Governor Mike Pence of Indiana. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Pity the people who run Memories Pizzeria in the small town of Walkerton, Ind., near South Bend. A TV reporter asked a question about a hypothetical catering of a gay wedding. I’ve never heard of a wedding reception serving pizza, and nobody had been refused for an order of pizza. It was just a question to the teenage daughter of the owner by a reporter who had picked out this place because it has a cross on the wall. It was a made-up incident. The reporter who picked the Memories Pizzeria clearly had an agenda.
What’s interesting to me is the knee-jerk support of many large corporations to this attack on Indiana. My speculation is that they have all felt the pressure of the gay lobby in the past and see this as a way to curry favor with that group. Ah, the corporation that expresses a moral view: Applauded when their stance is liberal; derided when they take a conservative stance (like Hobby Lobby). Odd, isn’t it?
Historically we have had conscientious objectors to the draft; communion wine was permitted during Prohibition, and there is a privilege between priest/minister and penitent. Religious practice needs to be defended. Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana has caved. Memories Pizzeria is closed (but supporters have rallied), and the owners have been subjected to death threats.
Most importantly, this will be an issue in the 2016 presidential campaign. I hope somebody is on God’s side.