Arizona bill letting businesses deny service for religious reasons sparks heated debate

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is facing pressure from both sides of a heated debate over religious rights, as she weighs whether to sign a bill that would legally protect businesses that deny services to customers for religious reasons. 

The bill cleared the Arizona Legislature last week. Opponents are calling the measure “state-sanctioned discrimination” and raising such scenarios as gays being denied restaurant service or medical treatment when a business owner’s religion doesn’t condone homosexuality.

The bill updates existing Arizona law on the “exercise of religion” and protects businesses, corporations and people from lawsuits if they deny services based on a “sincere” religious belief.

Supporters argue the bill is about protecting religious freedom, not about allowing discrimination. And they frequently cite the case of a New Mexico photographer sued for refusing to take wedding pictures of a gay couple.
"This bill is about preventing discrimination against people who are clearly living out their faith,” said state GOP Sen. Steve Yarbrough, the bill sponsor. 

Brewer, a Republican, has five days to sign or veto the bill once it gets to her desk but has yet to clearly indicate what she will do. Brewer suggested over the weekend that she supports a business's freedom of choice but remains unsure whether that has to be put into state law. She vetoed a similar bill proposed last year by Yarbrough. 

Despite some support in the state Legislature, prominent Republicans have pressed the GOP governor for a veto, including Sen. John McCain. Five of seven Republican candidates for governor also have called for the bill to be vetoed or withdrawn. The latest is Frank Riggs, a former California congressman, who said it is a "solution in search of a problem." 

According to the new bill, "A person whose religious exercise is burdened … may assert that violation as a claim or a defense in a judicial proceeding.”

In addition to the New Mexico case, a gay couple in Arizona was recently denied service over religious beliefs when the owner of a small bakery declined to bake the couple a wedding cake. “I respectfully declined due to my personal Biblical convictions as a born-again Christian,” the owner told an Arizona TV station. “I firmly believe that my convictions in the Bible are more important than money.”

Similar legislation has been introduced in Ohio, Mississippi, Idaho, South Dakota, Tennessee and Oklahoma. But Arizona's plan is the only one that has passed. 

Supporters of the Arizona legislation also say it is needed to protect people from heavy-handed actions by courts and law enforcement.

The bill allows any business, church or person to cite the law as a defense in any action brought by the government or an individual. It also allows the business or person to seek an injunction once they show their actions are based on a sincere religious belief and the claim places a burden on the exercise of their religion.

Three state House Republicans opposed the bill but have not elaborated on their vote.
"I disagree with the bill," said GOP state Rep. Ethan Orr. "I think it's a bad bill."

Arizona's voters approved a ban on same-sex marriage as a state constitutional amendment in 2008. It's one of 29 states with such prohibitions, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Federal judges have recently struck down bans in Utah, Oklahoma and Virginia, but those decisions are under appeal.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Mayor declares 2014 the 'year of the Bible' in Texas city

The mayor of a Texas city is raising some eyebrows after he officially declared 2014 the “year of the Bible.”

MyFoxDFW.com reports Tom Hayden, the mayor of Flower Mound, made the declaration at a city council meeting last month. 

Hayden says he had considered making the declaration for two years because he wants his community to connect through the Bible, and finally decided to do so in 2014.

"There's so much benevolence on helping your fellow person," Hayden told MyFoxDFW.com. "And the morality that helped build our country is based on the values that are found in the Bible. And as we look at problems, maybe we're getting away from those values. And in my little small way, I want to encourage people to get back into those values."

Hayden hopes to do so by encouraging all the residents of his town to read the entire Bible together in a year. Daily passages will be posted on a website called thebible2014.com, which was created by the Calvary Chapel of Flower Mound “as a connecting point to fulfill the Mayor’s vision.”

However, some residents are not sold on the mayor’s idea.

"He was elected mayor," Curt Orton told MyFoxDFW.com. "Not as the spiritual leader of Flower Mound."

Hayden’s move is not without precedent. President Reagan made a similar declaration in 1983, and Hayden references Reagan and other presidents in his declaration.

Click for more from MyFoxDFW.com. 

Residents ordered to remove 'God Bless America' signs

Residents of a Florida city who have had "God Bless America" signs posted on their front lawns for months have been ordered by local officials to remove them.

MyFoxTampaBay.com reports that the First Baptist Church of Bartow distributed some 300 signs to residents following a Fourth of July celebration. The city only permits residents to display signs during major holidays is starting to crack down on the displays.

"Being a veteran, I felt like I was just kicked in the gut. I couldn't believe it, that I couldn't display my love for my nation by putting a sign up that says "God Bless America," Bartow resident Marcus Seger told the station.

The city's code enforcement division recently notified offending residents that its temporary sign ordinance has been in place for 13 years and already allows for some exceptions for yard displays.
"They can have those signs out on holidays that are relevant," ," Bartow Code Enforcement Director Gregg Lamb said. "You can have a temporary sign around Christmas if it's related to Christmas. Or the 4th of July. The sign ordinance has exceptions for that."

Some Bartow residents disagree with the ordinance and have no plans to comply with the city's request. "This is my yard that I'm paying the taxes on. It's my right," Emmett Purvis, an area resident with a sign, told MyFoxTampaBay.com. 

Several residents are expected to seek a waiver from the ordinance at an upcoming Bartow City Commission meeting. The city's code enforcement division does not enforce fines or penalties for non-compliance, according to the report.

City Manager George Long released a statement late Friday reminding residents that code enforcement officers are targeting all types of signs, regardless of the message.

"It is clear that some recipients of the notices have interpreted them as an indication that their message of 'God Bless America' is in violation of city code. This interpretation is not the case or the intent of the city. Instead, the issue is and remains the sign type – not the message," Long said. 
Source: http://www.foxnews.com

Step toward banning conservative Christians from office?