Dear Toni,

Yes, no coffee and no strychnine: so then all is fine?

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Dear Nick,

I wish I could do the same as Joan when my time of trial comes.

«"If a happily married man buys cake for his husband but finds the baker is bound by his conscience then should the baker be compelled to sell. Whose rights are greater. Should the gay be sensitive".?»

I may personally condemn the baker's morals and think they should come to disrepute, but it's my view that forcing another to work for you against their will is, by definition, slavery. Should anyone in our day and age be as insensitive as to enslave others?

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Dear Foxy,

Like you said all the time: we'll have to wait and see...

But I do hope that Brandis doesn't limit his amendments to SSM issues. I also hope that Brandis's amendments are not limited to appease the big established churches, but go further to protect everyone's private religion as well.

«And as far as not wanting to provide cakes to certain people in general?»

I wouldn't concentrate that much on "not wanting". Rather, the baker/provider would have liked to help the customer, but something substantial prevents them.

«Your arguments are rather strange, to say the least.»

These are not common events, but when they occur, they can really hurt.

Two more examples:
1) A man is either a monk or included in his marriage vows never to look at another woman. Shouldn't he be able to make a living by starting a business that is open to male customers only?
(he would be happy for a boy to come in and carry the goods to his mother outside)

2) One's priesthood-vows prevents her from coming in contact with unclean animals. Should she be prevented from starting a business because a blind person might want to enter with their dog, which would desecrate her sacred space?
(she would be happy to hold the blind person's hand and lead them in without his dog)

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Dear Leoj,

I am vegetarian, but I'm ashamed of PETA's actions.

We are trusting Brand is now, are we? This person has got everything he touches wrong; he makes Turnbull look passable.

No response to my alternate scenario then, Yuyutsu? Why am I not surprised? It's always easier to look at things two-dimensionally, isn't it?

Perhaps Yututsu was thinking of this (maybe subliminally).

"Northern Ireland bakers guilty of discrimination over gay marriage cake

Ashers Baking Company found guilty for refusing to make cake featuring gay pressure-group slogan ...."

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/may/19/northern-ireland-ashers-baking-company-guilty-discrimination-gay-marriage-cake

//Yes, no coffee and no strychnine: so then all is fine?//

No, I want it baked and decorated as a full-scale replica of Spock (Leonard Nimoy's Spock, obviously).

Those of you who don't get hysterical about Pickering Post might like to look at his cartoon today on the 'broad church' that the Coalition has sunk to.