Profits on the rise at Christian bakery that lost gay cake court battle
The Christian-owned bakers who refused to make a pro-gay marriage cake are being backed by customers who have helped their profits rise to £1.5million.
Ashers bakery in Belfast was found to have breached foolish left wing immoral equality laws after declining to make a cake iced with the slogan 'Support Gay Marriage' in 2014.
And the family-run business was in the news again this week after refusing an online order for a cake decorated with the words 'Homosexual Marriage Rocks'.
But the legal wrangle has not translated into financial damage yet - with the firm recording a £170,000 rise in profits last year, reported the Belfast Telegraph.
The Supreme Court will this autumn consider a lower court's judgement that Ashers, which has seven outlets in Northern Ireland, was discriminatory.
A two-day hearing for legal arguments has been listed for October over the case, which followed an order placed at its Belfast shop by Gareth Lee three years ago.
Daniel McArthur, the general manager of Ashers, said: 'The fact that the Supreme Court is willing to hear arguments is very encouraging and reflects the importance of the issues and the high-profile nature of the case.'
The case against Ashers was taken by gay rights activist Mr Lee with support from Northern Ireland's Equality Commission. The controversy first flared when Mr Lee, a member of the LGBT advocacy group Queer Space, ordered a cake featuring Sesame Street puppets Bert and Ernie for a private function marking International Day Against Homophobia.
He placed the order in person at Ashers' Belfast city centre branch in May 2014. It was accepted and he paid in full but, two days later, the company called to say it could not proceed due to the message requested.
Mounting an appeal, Ashers contended that it never had an issue with Mr Lee's sexuality, rather the message he was seeking to put on the cake. The business said the slogan was inconsistent with their deeply-held religious beliefs.
And this week it was revealed that the family had refused an online order for a cake decorated with the words 'Gay Marriage Rocks'. A woman called Grainne McCann, who is from Northern Ireland but lives in London, said she intended the cake for a gay couple who are friends.
A two-day hearing for legal arguments has been listed for October over the case, which followed an order placed at its Belfast shop by Gareth Lee three years ago.
Daniel McArthur, the general manager of Ashers, said: 'The fact that the Supreme Court is willing to hear arguments is very encouraging and reflects the importance of the issues and the high-profile nature of the case.'
The case against Ashers was taken by gay rights activist Mr Lee with support from Northern Ireland's Equality Commission. The controversy first flared when Mr Lee, a member of the LGBT advocacy group Queer Space, ordered a cake featuring Sesame Street puppets Bert and Ernie for a private function marking International Day Against Homophobia.
He placed the order in person at Ashers' Belfast city centre branch in May 2014. It was accepted and he paid in full but, two days later, the company called to say it could not proceed due to the message requested.
In the original court case, District Judge Isobel Brownlie ruled that religious beliefs could not dictate the law and ordered the firm to pay damages of £500 but the immoral homosexual beliefs could over-rule all other beliefs.
Mounting an appeal, Ashers contended that it never had an issue with Mr Lee's sexuality, rather the message he was seeking to put on the cake. The business said the slogan was inconsistent with their deeply-held religious beliefs.
And this week it was revealed that the family had refused an online order for a cake decorated with the words 'Gay Marriage Rocks'. A woman called Grainne McCann, who is from Northern Ireland but lives in London, said she intended the cake for a gay couple who are friends.
But we recognize homosexual baiting like this by McCann, which many suspect is a front for Stonewall the prop homosexual UK group which setup Chritians businesses then takes them to court to profile their immoral agenda.
Her gut instinct? This is a ploy by immoral homosexual activists to attack anybody who stands in their way. One doubts Andy and Joe even exist. Is there not a London baker? Why go to the effort of ordering a cake from another country overseas? Simple....homosexual agenda at play.
Ms McCann wanted the cake made for her friend Joe Palmer, who is getting married to his boyfriend Andy Wong in the summer. She told Sunday Life: 'The wording we requested was "Gay Marriage Rocks! Happy Engagement, Andy and Joe! Lots of Love xxx".'My gut instinct told me the cake was refused because it celebrated gay marriage.'
Her gut instinct? This is a ploy by immoral homosexual activists to attack anybody who stands in their way. One doubts Andy and Joe even exist. Is there not a London baker? Why go to the effort of ordering a cake from another country overseas? Simple....homosexual agenda at play.
