Sadly, a majority of the western consciousness doesn't support religious freedom to an exercisable extent anymore. The option remaining for Christians is to bring most aspects of life inside the church.

How many of these cake stories are we going to hear?
It's a DAMN CAKE. Not a gun to your head!

If these women suffered an "ordeal", they brought it upon themselves.
They could simply say "each to their own" and go to another shop.

They aren't being denied participation in society.
Society is more than one cake shop.

I hope I win lotto soon, so I can send the Kleins a use-anytime-you-need-it credit card. (I won't send money. Big Brother will take it away.)
Not because I agree with their beliefs, but because I'm sick to death of this draconian approach to "tolerance/progress".

Where are the rights and liberties on the other side of the fence?
It's all one-sided.
Not-so-"liberals" want their cake and don't want you to eat yours too.

I am a true liberal and am disgusted by what is being done in that name.

Far and away the best thing about the gay marriage controversy is watching the likes of Ms Francis foaming at the mouth with outrage at the thought that someone else is happy about something she doesn't approve of.

Gay marriage in Australia is now politically inevitable, so I'll just grab my popcorn, sit on the couch and laugh at the hysterical ranting of the fogies, god-botherers and misfits.

PS. Do you really think using Tony Perkins of the so-called Family Research Council as a source helps your case?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Perkins_%28politician%29#Controversy
https://www.glaad.org/cap/tony-perkins

This has got nothing to do with religious freedom.
Should Sikhs be allowed to carry a knife on a plane?
Should JW Doctors be allowed to refuse to give or refer people for blood transfers?
should Muslims be allowed to have multiple wives.

I can go on, but the thing you need to get your head around is there is a difference in allowing you to have religious beliefs and how you exercise them in the public forum. It is a difficult balancing act between personal freedom and oppression.

This article is typical of right wing religious, full of self importance and caring of no one else. the old happy to see the state tell other people they can't do stuff just don't tell me want to do.

I have warned the religious members in this forum time and again:

No religious freedom is possible unless freedom isn't denied from anyone - saints and sinners alike: the price for our own freedom must be that sinners have their freedom too.

Do not expect secular government to respect religious freedoms because even if it wanted, it is blind and has no wisdom or tools to distinguish between religion and irreligion or even between good and evil. Do not consort with the devil, do not accept the state's services and privileges - or at your peril they will turn back against yourself.

Specifically, reject all "anti-discrimination" laws. Do not complain when others refuse to serve those of your religious persuasion - but let them and turn the other cheek, let everyone freely choose whom they serve and whom they allow on their private property which they happen to use for business.

If you are looking for justice - trust God, not the state!

---

That was my message for the religious. For everyone else, especially for the humanists among us, just remember that forcing someone to work against their will has a name: SLAVERY and forcing someone to give against their will also has a name: ROBBERY.

---

Dear Pat,

<<The option remaining for Christians is to bring most aspects of life inside the church.>>

What is a church? Just a big building with a big cross? Our own bodies, our own homes and our own businesses should be consecrated as churches, dedicated for the service of God!

The Kleins have not been asked to enter into a same sex relationship. How is their religious freedom at risk? Did they refuse to make cakes for couples who had previously lived together, were of mixed race, or were not virgins at the time of the marriage? How does somebody else not following your belief system disallow your right to practice the religion of your choice? This is a discrimination case, pure and simple.