Religious Freedom and Civil Rights The Alliance Defending Freedom held a discussion on the tension between religious freedom and civil rights. Speakers included small business owners with deeply-held religious beliefs who face civil penalties, loss of their business, and retaliation from some in their communities for refusing service to same-sex couples.
Excellent Q&A with businesses who have been targeted by the ALCU and the Attorney General.
If you have the time, it is encouraging that these people are not going to lay down and allow the government to force them to put their religion on a back burner.
I think you will remember these people from the news.
Barronell Stutzman, Arelene's Flowers - 32:00 mark - "MY SOURCE OF STRENGTH -- WE HAVE ALL BEEN THROUGH TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS IN OUR LIVES THAT BROUGHT US TO WHERE WE ARE AND THEY AREN'T NECESSARILY THINGS WE WANT TO GO THROUGH, BUT WERE PUT THROUGH AND ONE OF THE THINGS -- A COUPLE OF THINGS I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THAT REALLY HARD TIMES IN MY LIFE, RIGHT AFTER I WAS MARRIED I FOUND OUT I HAD BREAST CANCER AND MY FATHER PASSED AWAY AND I THINK GOD TOOK ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT I DID NOT UNDERSTAND TO USE THEM TO PREPARE ME FOR WHAT HE HAS FOR ME TODAY. GOD DOESN'T NEED ME, ALL I HAVE TO OFFER HIM IS MY SIN AND HE SAYS IF WE SEEK HIM OUT AND ARE OBEDIENT HE WILL TAKE CARE OF US AND THAT IS WHAT I CAPS ON -- AND THAT IS WHAT I COUNT ON."
Kelvin Cochran, Former Atlanta Fire Chief - 27:00 mark - "ALL OF MY LIFE SINCE I BECAME A CHRISTIAN FROM AN EARLY AGE MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED IN SUNDAY SCHOOL VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL, BAPTIST TRAINING, WE JUST CONSTANTLY ON THE FACE AND ONE OF THE TERMS THAT DESCRIBE MY FAITH IS A LIVING FAITH WHICH SIMPLY MEANS THAT WHEN YOU LIVE OUT THROUGH FAITH AND OBEDIENCE THERE SHOULD BE EVIDENCE THAT IT IS REAL. GOING UP -- GROWING UP IN POVERTY IN SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA AND EATING MAYONNAISE SANDWICHES WHEN THE WELFARE CHECKS AND FOOD STAMPS RAN OUT AND HAVING UTILITIES CUT OFF FROM TIME TO TIME, HAVING A DREAM THAT I WANTED TO BE A FIREFIGHTER ONE DAY, HAVING A DREAM THAT I WOULD BE A FATHER AND A HUSBAND ONE DAY, I WAS TAUGHT THAT YOUR FAITH AND OBEDIENCE TO THAT WOULD CAUSE OF THAT TO HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. LIVING OUT OF THAT FAITH, I AM ONE OF THOSE AMERICAN CHRISTIANS -- MY LIFE IS PROOF THAT IT IS A LIVING FAITH, THAT JESUS CAME SO WE MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY. NONE OF MY CHILDREN KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE TO EAT MELANIE -- MAYONNAISE SANDWICHES. THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE FOR OUR WATER TO BE TURNED OFF AND LIGHTS TO BE TURNED OFF BECAUSE WE HAVE A LIVING FAITH. I BECAME A FIREFIGHTER, I BECAME THE HIGHEST FIRE OFFICIAL IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BECAUSE IT IS A LIVING FAITH. IN OUR FAITH, IF WE BELIEVE IT WE SHOULD LIVE IT OUT. IT SHOULD BE A PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION OF OUR FAITH SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE SO CURIOUS ABOUT, HOW IS IT THAT YOU CAN HAVE THIS LIFE, WE CAN POINT THEM TO JESUS CHRIST. IT IS A MATTER OF FACT THAT JESUS SAID IF YOU DENY ME PUBLICLY, I WILL DENY YOU BEFORE MY FATHER IN HEAVEN. WHEN WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE ACCORDING TO THE WAY I WAS RAISED, WHEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN YOUR FAITH AND YOUR JOB, YOU CHOOSE YOUR FAITH AND THAT IS WHAT I DID."
https://www.c-span.org/video/?417426...ion&start=1922
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