Christian bakery owners praying for 'just outcome' at appeal hearing over 'gay cake' lawsuit

Christian bakers in the United States are not the only ones getting sued for "gay cake" issues. A couple in Ireland who refused to make a cake iced with a pro-gay slogan two years ago is waiting for an appeal hearing this week.

"It has been a long and difficult road, but we have been sustained every step of the way by the word of God and by the many thousands of people who have supported us," said bakery owner Daniel McArthur, as quoted by The Independent. "Many share our beliefs about marriage. Many more defend our freedom to hold those beliefs. As a family we are simply hoping and praying for a just outcome so that our ordeal in court next week will be our last."

Daniel, along with his wife Karen, owns and runs Ashers Baking Company, a chain of bakeries with more than 80 employees that serves the United Kingdom and Ireland.

On May 9, 2014, Gareth Lee, a gay rights activist and member of LGBT advocacy group Queer Space, ordered a cake from Ashers. Set to be served during an event for the International Day Against Homophobia, he wanted the cake to be designed with Sesame Street characters Ernie and Bert, along with the message "Support Gay Marriage." He paid the full price of £36.50 but was informed two days later over the phone that the company could not fulfil his request.

The Northern Ireland Equality Commission took civil action against the bakery on behalf of Lee. The County Court in Belfast heard the case in March 2015, where the McArthurs said that they couldn't make the cake as it would compromise their religious beliefs. Lee, on the other hand, reportedly expressed that the incident made him feel like a lesser person. District Judge Isobel Brownlie said that the law could not be dictated by religious beliefs. She ruled that the McArthurs discriminated against Lee and violated the legislation on equality, ordering them to pay the plaintiff £500 in damages.

According to the report, the appeal was supposed to be heard in February, but was postponed to Monday, May 9. The Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan and two other judges will preside over the case, which is expected to take place over several days.

The Christian Institute has given support for the McArthurs and the Ashers Baking Company, having organized rallies and gathering funds to help in the legal process.

"We have a strong case and are looking forward to being able to put that case in court next week," said the organization's deputy director of public affairs Simon Calvert. "We know there are huge numbers of people around the country who, even if they don't support the McArthurs' beliefs on marriage, do not think they should be compelled to promote views that go against those beliefs. We're hopeful that the Lord Chief Justice and his colleagues on the bench will take the same view."