Supreme Court Punts Again on Religious Freedom

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The U.S. Supreme Court is punting again on the question of religious freedom.

Monday, the High Court sent the case of a Washington state florist, who refused to make flowers celebrating a same-sex wedding, back to the state Supreme Court.

In 2017, the Washington court unanimously ruled that Christian florist Barronelle Stutzman had discriminated against a gay couple by refusing to provide flowers for the wedding.

Stutzman appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing it violates her First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and the free exercise of religion.

The U.S. Supreme Court vacated the judgment and sent it back to the state supreme court for another hearing "in light of Masterpiece Cakeshop."

Masterpiece Cakeshop was an earlier High Court decision ruling in favor of a Christian baker who refused to bake a cake for a gay wedding.

After the ruling, Stutzman's attorney, Kristen K. Waggoner from Alliance Defending Freedom, considered the High Court's ruling a win:

"The same hostility that was present against Jack Phillips is present against Barronelle. And in addition to the free speech claims and the additional free exercise claims are still in play in the lower court. So it absolutely is a victory for Barronelle."

Stutzman says she'll serve all people including gays but cannot violate her conscience by serving same-sex weddings.

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