Action against Ashers bakery criticised as being dogmatic

Decision by Equality Commission described as bizarre

The threat of legal action by the North’s Equality Commission against a Christian bakery in Belfast has been described as bizarre and dogmatic by Christian leaders.

Ashers Bakery, a family-run business, refused the commission of a cake bearing the message ‘Support Gay Marriage’ on the basis that its message went against the religious beliefs on traditional marriage held by the owners. The Equality Commission Northern Ireland is now threatening to prosecute the company unless it pays compensation.

Bishop of Derry Dr Donal McKeown told The Irish Catholic that “it is often difficult to balance competing rights”, however “nobody should be forced to act against their conscience”. He said liberalism had rallied against dogmatism and “in this case it risks being an illiberal dogmatism that leaves little room for those who do not agree with it”.

Bizarre

Rev. Dr David Clements from the Methodist Church said the issue was a matter of conscience and it would be “bizarre” if the commission took action against the bakery in the name of “equality”.

The North’s first minister, Peter Robinson, has described the commission’s actions as “bonkers”. “At a time when we’re scraping around to get funding for essential services in Northern Ireland, they’re tossing it into the courts,” he said.