Jeb Bush: Christian business should be allowed to refuse to serve same-sex weddings
Republican Jeb Bush said Christian business owners should “absolutely” be allowed to refuse to provide services for same-sex weddings.
The rumoured presidential candidate, and brother of former president George W Bush, spoke to the Christian Broadcasting Network about faith.
He said: “It’s not just that people of faith can have their views, it’s that they need the space to act on their conscience. That is what faith is about.
“The best of our faith is when people act on their core beliefs in way to help others, to protect the vulnerable, to do whatever they think is right based on their faith.
“And now that’s being attacked. You have Hillary Clinton saying that people of faith need to get over it, they need to put aside their views.
“We shouldn’t ever let that happen.”
Asked if businesses should have the right to refuse to serve same-sex weddings, Mr Bush said: “Yeah absolutely, if it’s based on a religious belief
“A big country, a tolerant country, ought to be able to figure out the difference between discriminating someone because of their sexual orientation and not forcing someone to participate in a wedding that they find goes against their moral beliefs.”
In April it emerged Mr Bush had declared him Hispanic on a voter registration form.
While working to shore up support in recent months he has affirmed his opposition to same-sex marriage – and hired anti-gay activist Jordan Sekulow, who lobbied African countries into maintaining homophobic laws.
