To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE


SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

NY Farm Couple Must Still Pay Thousands in Fine for Refusing to Host Gay Wedding

News Staff : Jan 15, 2016  CBN News

"All Robert and I want is the freedom to peacefully live and work faithfully on our family farm and according to what God says about marriage without fear of government punishment. The America we love is one where we respect each other's differences, and the government still protects the freedom to have those differences. Others have the freedom to say or not say what they want to about marriage, and that's all we are asking for, as well." -Cynthia Gifford

(New York)—[CBN News] A New York court has upheld a state decision to fine a farm couple for refusing to host a lesbian wedding on their property. (Photo via LifeSiteNews)

The New York Division of Human Rights ruled in July 2014 that Cynthia and Robert Gifford were guilty of "sexual orientation discrimination" for refusing to allow Melisa and Jennifer McCarthy to use their "place of public accommodation" for their same-sex ceremony.

The Giffords said doing so would violate their conscience, but invited the two women to use their property for their reception site.

The state agency has ordered the Giffords to pay a fine of $10,000 plus $3,000 in damages and ordered them to implement re-education training classes.

On Thursday, the New York Supreme Court appellate division upheld the order and fines.

Melisa McCarthy originally called Cynthia Gifford in 2012 to ask about the use of Gifford's farm for her upcoming same-sex ceremony. [Because of her Christian faith's teachings on marriage, Cynthia politely told McCarthy that she and her husband don't host and coordinate same-sex ceremonies but left open an invitation to visit the farm to consider it as a potential reception site. Instead, McCarthy and her partner filed a complaint with the Division of Human Rights.]

Caleb Dalton, an attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom who represented the Giffords, said "the government went after both this couple's freedom and their ability to make a living simply for adhering to their faith on their own property."

"The court should have rejected this unwarranted and unconstitutional government intrusion, so we will consult with our client regarding appeal," he said.







SHARE THIS ARTICLE Printer friendly version of this page

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News

MOVIEGUIDE's Review of the New Animated Film: DAVID

Massachusetts Drops Controversial Gender Ideology Mandate for Licensing Foster Care Parents

Nearly 40% of Women Suffer Severe Grief for Years after Abortion, Miscarriage: Study

Former Pfizer Vice President: COVID Shots Were 'Designed to Cause Injury,' Reduce Fertility

Dutch Sheets Shares a Warning from the US National Counterterrorism Center

Venezuela: Trump's Pressure Campaign and Maduro's Fury

President Trump Charts Accomplishments and Previews Future Policies during His Primetime Address

Secretary Hegseth and Franklin Graham Preach Gospel at Pentagon Christmas Service: 'Jesus Took Our Shame'

'Unsafe, Needless, Irreversible': HHS Sec. Kennedy Takes Sweeping Action to Reverse Biden-Era Policies on So-Called 'Gender Affirming Care'

Hobby Lobby Giving Away Half a Million Copies of Book Defending Biblical Christmas Story [Video]

Geothermal Blind Power Site Discovered in Nevada

Black Lives Matter Leader Indicted on Dozens of Federal Fraud Charges

DC Police Chief Forced Staff to Underreport Crime Counts, Subordinates Testify to House Oversight

'Shocking New Docs' Show Biden's DOJ Pressured FBI to Raid Mar-a-Lago, Says Grassley

Rob Reiner's Son Arrested In Connection With Brutal Slayings, Bail Set At $4 Million

Still No Suspect in Murder of Jewish MIT Professor

After Bondi Beach, the West Must Directly Confront Jihadism, Experts Say

'Chile Has Defeated Communism Today': José Antonio Kast Wins Presidential Race in Conservative Landslide

'He Takes My Breath Away': a Christmas Season Story from Give Him 15

President Trump Classifying Fentanyl as 'Weapon of Mass Destruction'



Search the Articles Archives

Keyword:  
Author:  
Words Posted On:  
Day Month Year



BCN Plus

Follow BCN on Twitter
Are You Praying for Our Government Leaders?
BCN Staff

Steve Shultz
Steve Shultz, Managing Editor
Founder and Owner


Aimee Herd
Aimee Herd, Editor


BCN Plus
Are You Praying for President Trump?
 
 

All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.


Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved


Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.

editor@breakingchristiannews.com