Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) toured the University of Wisconsin-Madison and found that students think a business has the right to refuse service for certain reasons — but not if the owner is Christian, and not if it involves turning down a same-sex wedding.
Students told ADF that it was okay for a dress designer to turn down Melania Trump for political reasons. “You should be able to control your business in that regard, yeah,” one young man said. “I mean, it’s a free market, that’s what most conservatives want anyway,” another student chimed in. When asked if the dress designer has the right to do that, a young woman replied, “Absolutely.”
ADF also asked students what should happen if a church approached a Muslim singer for an Easter service. Students unanimously said that such a singer has a right to “opt out” of that arrangement. “That seems like such an unusual circumstance that they would want them … like a Christian church would force a Muslim singer to sing at their church if they didn’t want to,” one young woman said. Students agreed that no law should force someone to serve another person against their religious convictions.
But when asked if a Christian has the right to opt out of serving a same-sex wedding, the students hesitated.
“Everyone agreed that a creative professional should have the foundational freedom to decline work that conflicts with their conscience and beliefs. But, when faced with a situation that conflicts with current cultural expectations — like a Christian photographer declining to promote a same-sex wedding — the gears start grinding,” the ADF spokesman explained.
“If a law that forces someone to promote something that’s against their beliefs is so laughable, so unimaginable, then why is it so difficult to extend that same freedom to a Christian creative professional?” Excellent question.
Click “Load More” to see the video.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member