New Mexico Supreme Court Ruling Against Christian Photographer a Gross Violation of Free Speech, Religious Freedom Rights

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Aug 22, 2013, 04:48 ET

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the New Mexico Supreme Court in Elane Photography v. Willock, ruled against a Christian photographer who, citing her deeply held religious beliefs, declined to work a same-sex commitment ceremony. New Mexico law does not recognize gay marriage or gay civil unions. A recent Rasmussen survey found that 85 percent of Americans support the right of a photographer to refuse participation in a same-sex "wedding."

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Ken Klukowski, Family Research Council's Director for the Center for Religious Liberty released the following statement:

"The New Mexico Supreme Court's decision is profoundly disturbing. That court explicitly declares that a person's sincerely-held religious beliefs--in this case, traditional and orthodox Christian beliefs--do not permit them to run their privately-owned business in accordance with their religious beliefs. This decision would stun the Framers of the U.S. Constitution, is a gross violation of the First Amendment, and should now be taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court to reaffirm the basic principle that the fundamental rights of free speech and the free exercise of religion do not stop at the exit door of your local church, and instead extend to every area of a religious person's life.

"This decision may bring to Americans' attention the serious threat to religious liberty posed by overbearing government agencies when it comes to redefining marriage. Rather than live-and-let-live, this is forcing religious Americans to violate the basic teachings of their faith, or lose their jobs," concluded Klukowski.

SOURCE Family Research Council