FEBRUARY 28, 2014

     I wrote here earlier this week about a bill the Arizona legislature passed which would have allowed businessmen and women to deny service to gays if the denial were based on sincere religious conviction.  The governor, conservative Pam Bewer, vetoed the bill, whicih means, as you might have expected, that the argument goes on.

     The notion that you can deny me--or I, you-- some service based on our religious beliefs is troubling  The heart of the trouble is the First Amendment to the Constitution, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof....."  In other words, we are all free Americans and your religion can't tell me what to do.

     But freedom of religion cases are pending in at least four other states.  The Supreme Court will hear arguments next month over whether businesses should be allowed to refuse to give their employees contraceptive coverage.

     In other words, the beat goes on.