Christian B&B Fined for Not Hosting LGBT Wedding Must Pay Fine After All

The fight still continues for TimberCreek Bed & Breakfast.

TimberCreek Bed & Breakfast in Paxton, Illinois was forced to pay a $80,000 in fines and attorney's fees for a 2011 incident of not allowing a same-sex couple to have their wedding ceremony in the venue.

The 3-member panel (2 of which were either openly gay or involved in LGBT activism) of the Illinois Human Rights Commission rejected the hearing of the appeal of Jim Walder, the owner.

The Supreme Court turned down an appeal and the decision was upheld. The Christian owner is seeking for a reconsideration of their appeal. However, many think it highly unlikely for any further appeal to be reconsidered.

Debate remains on the impartiality of rulings like this. On one side is the right of same-sex couples to marry. On the other is a person's right to exercise and live out his religious beliefs. Christian owner Jim Walder did not prevent them from getting married. He only pointed them somewhere else. The gay couple believe in same-sex marriages; they had other options ahead of them. Christian owner Jim Walder believes in a traditional marriage; he had only one option- to not allow his venue to be used for non-traditional marriages. Yes, he could have allowed them but He didn't feel comfortable doing it because he believed in the principle of traditional marriage.

Is it just to sacrifice one's values just to accommodate another person's differing values? Is it just to impose monetary penalties on someone because of his principles? Is it just to order someone to change business practices and to overlook personal values in the exercise of one's OWN business? Is it just to fine someone for living by his faith?

If there were no other place available for the gay couple to celebrate their wedding, I would understand the protest. But other options are available and the Christian owner was in no way trying to stop them from marrying. His conscience just couldn't be comfortable allowing his property to be a venue for an event that went against his faith beliefs. Did he insist his beliefs on them, did he try and stop them from practicing what they believed to be right? It seems not. Ironically, this whole suit thing shows them to be the ones insisting their beliefs on him. It shows them trying to stop him from practicing what he believes to be right. Who then is guilty of discriminating? Who is actually the victim of discrimination in this situation?

Comments

Container Gardening: Planting KangKong in Pots (Water Spinach)

Kang kong is a well-known leafy vegetable used in many Philippine dishes. It is quite easy to grow they say. There was a time when you can find kangkong patches on most streets in the neighborhood. It is also called water spinach or swamp cabbage. It thrives in wet, moist areas. Many grow it solely in water. It quickly grows under sunny spots but carers should keep the soil moist. Else, it may die. Some tips: Not much intstructions on planting. Just bury the seed and keep the soil moist or muddy. Kangkong grows all year round. Cut maybe an inch or two above the soil for continued regrowth and harvesting. Winter may see your plant dying but often, it regrows by spring. You may fertilize with nitrogen twice a month. You may harvest whole plants at about 1 to 2 months. Kangkong has the tendency to spread. Grow in a container for easy maintenance or harvest whole plants to control your supply. It is best to use potting soil for your containers. Putting regular soil in res...

Why Am I Sleepy During the Day?

What's causing your eyes and brain to shut down during the day? Why can't you keep your eyes open just when you really need to get some work or reading done? If you’ve been asking yourself, “ Why am I sleepy during the day ?” or struggling with that mid-morning or afternoon crash, you’re not alone. Millions of people deal with daytime sleepiness that makes it hard to focus, stay productive, or even enjoy daily activities. The good news? Most causes are simple and fixable once you know what’s behind that drowsy feeling. Too Many Carbs – A Common Cause of Daytime Fatigue If you're not careful, you can over-consume carbohydrates. And when you're takin in more carbohydrates than you can burn, you will get sleepy. Dr. Libby says it's either because your insulin levels are high or you might be gluten intolerant. Eat pasta, bread, potatoes and rice in moderation and space them properly. Studies show that a meal high in refined carbs can spike your blood sugar, followe...

Choose Gratitude!

Gratitude is how you deal with worry and anxiety. Gratitude helps you get over yourself. As Christians, we are called to practice gratitude every moment, not just when life is going smoothly but especially in the hard moments. Gratitude anchors our hearts to God’s faithfulness and reminds us that we are never alone. Gratitude Helps Us See Beyond Ourselves Somewhere in the world, in this very moment, someone is dying without Jesus. Someone is living it tough. They’re without hope, unaware that God is nearby, ready to save. As followers of Christ, cultivating a heart of gratitude keeps us sensitive to these realities, pushing us to pray, share the Gospel, and love others intentionally. It also moves us to keep appreciating our salvation and security in Christ, now and whatever happens in the future. People are out there, wrestling with the purpose of life. They have never known the presence and loving touch of the One True God. They have yet to experience a relationship with the Only ...

In Perspective

Search This Blog