Christian baker’sconscience stanceon ‘gay cake’ raised

DUP MP Gregory Campbell has asked the Prime Minister if religious freedoms should be protected by the introduction of a conscience clause after a Newtownabbey-based bakery refused to promote ‘gay marriage’ by icing a cake.

Mr Campbell was speaking in the House of Commons after the Equality Commission wrote to Ashers Baking Co. because it had refused to ice a ‘Support Gay Marriage’ slogan over an image of the Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie.

Mr Campbell said: “The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is threatening legal action against a family-owned bakery because it would not print a political message on a cake.

“The requested message was completely at variance with the company’s Christian values.”