Crosstalk: November 28, 2018

​Mat Staver is the founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, an international nonprofit litigation, education and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of human life and the family. Mat has over 230 published legal opinions. He has authored eight scholarly law review publications and ten books including 'Eternal Vigilance: Knowing and Protecting Your Religious Freedom'. He's the host and producer of the radio broadcasts, 'Faith and Freedom' and 'Freedom's Call'. He's argued two landmark cases before the United States Supreme Court.

Mat began with the details surrounding the allegations against Roy Moore of Alabama who's running for U.S. Senate. In particular, he discussed the alleged connections between Moore and his accusers, the high school yearbook notation that appears to be signed by Moore and why the allegations are falling apart.

The next topic on the agenda involved a very critical case with implications for religious liberty. It's called Masterpiece Cake Shop vs. Colorado Civil Rights Commission.

Jack Phillips is a cake artist and 40% of his business was weddings. He would meet with the bride and groom to find out what the theme of their wedding was so that he could create a very special cake for that occasion. When asked to bake a cake/give an expressive message for a same-sex marriage event, he declined. He was sued, and the Colorado Civil Rights Commission said he violated the civil rights law and that he discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation. The case went all the way to the highest court in the state and the decision was confirmed. The U.S. Supreme Court has taken the case and is narrowing the focus to the issue of free speech.

So the issue is this: Does the First Amendment Free Speech Clause ultimately supersede the so-called sexual orientation law in Colorado that would otherwise require him to use his talent to violate his own expression and create an artistic cake? This would apply to wedding photographers, artists, musicians and anything that applies to free speech.

Mat believes that if Phillips loses, that will have great implications for churches, pastors and artists, and will allow the LGBT agenda to be the 'steam roller' over free speech, and in particular, religious free expression.