Neil Gorsuch Delivers

Consider:

• Gorsuch was part of the majority in the Trinity Lutheran case which held that states may not arbitrarily deny churches access to public funds they make available to other nonprofit groups. Moreover, he wrote a separate opinion in the case forcefully arguing for a proper understanding of, and respect for, true religious liberty, which is the guarantee to freely exercise one’s religious beliefs, not merely hold such beliefs. This understanding of religious liberty is a critical factor in stopping the discrimination that people of faith are routinely facing because of their beliefs about marriage and other issues.

• Justice Gorsuch dissented in a case where the majority of the Court decided to force the state of Arkansas to list a non-biological LGBT parent on a child’s birth certificate. The majority of the Court relied on the Obergefell decision redefining marriage. That Justice Gorsuch was interested in a full hearing and argument of the Arkansas case where the reliance on Obergefell could be challenged is very encouraging.

• Finally, with Justice Gorsuch now on the bench, the US Supreme Court has granted review in a critical religious liberty case with far-reaching implications for every person who believes that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. The state of Colorado has punished Christian baker Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, for refusing to use his artistic talents to support a gay “wedding” because doing so violates his faith. This case will offer a tremendous opportunity to stop the ongoing governmental persecution of anyone who does not endorse the LGBT agenda.