Important Articles

The state of New Mexico is being accused of violating the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of “free exercise” of religion because of a ruling that a Christian husband-and-wife photography team must pay a $6,600 penalty for refusing to shoot pictures at a same-sex “commitment” ceremony.

The accusation comes in legal action brought by the Alliance Defense Fund over the penalty announced for Elane Photography.

“Christians in the marketplace should not be penalized for abiding by their beliefs any more than anyone else should,” Jordan Lorence, a senior counsel for the organization, said. “The Constitution prohibits the state from forcing unwilling people to promote a message they disagree with and thereby violate their conscience. The commission’s decision demonstrates stunning disregard for our client’s First Amendment rights.”

The “commission” to which he was referring was the New Mexico Civil Rights Commission, which targeted Elane Photography with its state authority and ordered the penalty of $6,600 after a one-day “trial” over the beliefs of the Christian-owned business.