Posted by:
anybody
(
)
Date: January 22, 2020 08:06AM
Hate dies hard...
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/20/africa/south-africa-lesbian-couple-wedding-venue/index.htmlhttps://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/another-couple-disappointed-after-beloftebos-venue-stands-firm-on-lgbtqi-weddings-policy-20200120A same-sex couple was angered and disappointed after a wedding venue in the Western Cape declined to host their wedding – and it wasn't the first time the venue declined to host a function. A similar decision was made in 2017.
But the owners of the venue, Beloftebos, believe that they are exercising their constitutional right to freedom of belief when they refuse to host weddings for LGBTQI+ couples, a spokesperson for Freedom of Religion SA (FOR SA) said on their behalf.
"Section 9 of the Constitution states that you can't unfairly discriminate on grounds of sexual orientation; but one right does not trump another right," said Michael Swain, executive director of FOR SA.
"We, the owners of Beloftebos are Christians who seek to honour and obey God in everything we do, including the way in which we operate our business (the wedding venue). While the venue is available to people of all race[s], our Biblical conviction is that marriage is reserved for a life-long commitment between one man and one woman. This is a deeply held belief (not only for us, but for the vast majority of Christians around the world for over 2 000 years) and is a foundational part of our faith as Christians. "This belief in turn guides our venue’s policy. It is our conscience before God which prohibits us from hosting any other kind of 'marriage' on our property – not a fear or hatred of homosexual people ('homophobia') as we have unfairly been accused of. For us, to host (and thereby enable, or celebrate) a same-sex 'marriage', would be to dishonour and disobey God – potentially with eternal consequences. This is too great a cost and if forced to compromise on our faith, we would have to 'obey God rather than men' (Acts 5:29). "At the same time, we appreciate and respect that South Africa is an open and democratic society where people are free to live their lives as they choose – including the right to conclude same-sex 'marriages'. We respect this freedom of choice, and simply ask that our freedom of choice (to believe, and live our lives according to, the Bible) be respected also. Our Constitution does not require everyone to believe the same, and does not punish people for holding divergent beliefs and opinions."
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/2020 08:11AM by anybody.