Robert Destro, professor, law, and director, Institute for Policy Research & Catholic Studies, was quoted in a National Catholic Register story about a lawsuit involving a Christian baker and a same-sex wedding.
... The central argument being put forth by the attorneys representing Phillips is that the First Amendment protects him from having to create artistic expression for an event he finds morally objectionable.
“This case is the latest in a long line of cases that affirms the proposition that you can’t force me to say things that I don’t agree with,” said Robert Destro, a law professor and founding director of the Interdisciplinary Program in Law & Religion at The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law.
Destro told the Register that there is a long history showing that the government cannot force citizens to engage in speech and activity that they oppose. The issue in the Masterpiececase, Destro said, is not about discrimination and animus toward homosexuals, but rather about someone being forced against his wishes to create something to celebrate a same-sex wedding.
“What the other side argues is that refusal to bake the wedding cake is discrimination,” Destro said. “Well, it’s not, because this case is not about discrimination [based] on sexual orientation; it’s based on content of speech.” ...
Continue reading in the Register.