Northern Ireland's Attorney General to participate in Ashers case
Northern Ireland's most senior lawyer has been given authorisation to become involved in the appeal of a Christian run bakery, which was found to have 'discriminated' against a customer with same-sex attraction.
Judges at Belfast's Court of Appeal ruled that Attorney General John Larkin QC raised an arguable case, that anti-discrimination laws in Northern Ireland directly discriminate against those who hold religious beliefs or political opinions.
'Potentially enormous'
In court on Thursday Mr Larkin said the ramifications of the case were "potentially enormous".
The ruling allows Mr Larkin to give further submissions on the Ashers Baking Company case, when the full appeal hearing starts on 9 May.
A judge had ruled last year that Ashers Baking Company had 'discriminated' against a customer on the grounds of sexual orientation, as the owners refused to bake a cake promoting same-sex 'marriage'.
Daniel and Amy McArthur, who run the bakery, were due to appeal that decision last month at Belfast's Court of Appeal, before Mr Larkin's last minute intervention.
Discussing Thursday's ruling, Simon Calvert, Deputy Director of The Christian Institute – which is supporting the case - said:
"The Attorney General has decided to intervene, using his constitutional power to raise questions about the validity of the legislation used against the McArthurs.
"And it is clear from the decision taken by the three judges, including the Lord Chief Justice, that he has raised matters of importance."
'Punished'
Commenting further, Mr Calvert said that the McArthurs had to defend themselves from the legal action and that there is much at stake.
They are, he said, "being punished for having mainstream, deeply-held religious beliefs".
Decision made 'out of love for God'
Throughout the ordeal the McArthur family have spoken openly of their faith.
Before a hearing last month Daniel explained that the couple's refusal to bake the cake was motivated by love for God.
"It was clear we did not hate anyone. We didn't want to discriminate against anyone. We did what we did because of our Christian beliefs. It’s done out of love for God, to obey Him," he said.
'Our faith affects every part of our lives'
The McArthurs went on to say that they felt it was "impossible" to leave their Christian beliefs out of the workplace.
Speaking of the ruling against them, Daniel said:
"For us, I think it means you have to leave your Christianity at your house and in your church, once you go out the door in the morning you can forget about your Christian beliefs.
"It is impossible for us not to bring it with us during the day.
"It is our human right to live according to those beliefs and we can't do something that goes against those beliefs, we can't be forced to do it."
Amy also said that she could not confine her faith to the four walls of a church building:
"It is my life. It isn't just something I just do at church."
"If they think it's unfashionable, if they think it's culturally irrelevant, that doesn't matter to me. What matters to me is that I live my life as best I can according to God’s commands and His word."
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— Christian Concern (@CConcern) March 4, 2016
Related Links:
Ashers Baking Company appeal put on hold
Ashers bakery owners: Decision made out of 'love for God'
Watch Andrew Marsh debates The Rainbow Project's Malachai O'Hara on the Ashers cake verdict
Related Coverage:
Ashers: Judges agree Attorney General’s involvement in case (Christian Institute)
