The Supreme Court is expected to rule in June on a very important religious liberty case; we filed a friend-of-the-court brief.
At issue is whether Colorado law can force someone to violate his sincerely held Christian beliefs on the subject of marriage. Lorie Smith is a web designer who filed suit against a law that would require her to design a website that heralds gay marriage. She has never denied her services to homosexuals, but she insists that to celebrate gay marriage is an infringement on her free speech rights and her religious rights. We obviously agree.
Representing the Catholic League is the Pittsburgh firm of Gallagher Giancola. We have accessed the services of Kathy Gallagher and Russ Giancola before, and have never lost.
The Supreme Court’s ruling will impact similar cases in 22 states, including multiple states with pending lawsuits in the lower courts. Currently, there is great confusion over this issue. When the high court ruled in the Jack Phillips Masterpiece Cakeshop case in 2018—he refused to make a wedding cake for a gay “married” couple—he won, but on a technicality. What happens in our case will affect him as well (he was sued again).
Lead counsel in this case, fighting for Smith, is the Alliance Defending Freedom, an outstanding law firm on our side. The Biden administration, the ACLU and other left-wing entities are on the other side.
Freedom of speech and freedom of religion are two of the most important rights we have as Americans. But left-wing sources are increasingly determined to weaken these rights, and this includes organizations that falsely claim they support them, such as the ACLU.
We hope to report in the July/August edition of Catalyst on the Supreme Court’s ruling.
