Christian Pizzeria Owners 'In Hiding' After Receiving Death Threats For Supporting Indiana Religious Freedom Law

Veronica Elliot Thursday, April 02, 2015

A girl waits for a slice of pizza at the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul, Minnesota, August 30, 2008. | (Photo: Reuters/Shannon Stapleton)

Christian pizza shop owners in Indiana are reportedly "in hiding" and receiving death threats after they recently supported Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Law and said they would not serve pizza to a same-sex wedding based on their religious beliefs.

The O'Connor family, who owns and operates the Memories pizzeria in Walkerton, Indiana, has reportedly been forced to temporarily close their small business after receiving death threats for recent comments they made in reference to Indiana's newly-passed Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The act, signed by Indiana Gov. Mike Pence last week, seeks to protect the First Amendment rights of Hoosiers by preventing local governments from burdening religious rights unless they have a compelling interest to do so.

Those who oppose the law argue that it would allow business owners to discriminate against gay customers based on their religious beliefs.

Crystal O'Connor, who owns Memories pizzeria with her husband, recently told the local ABC News station that she doesn't find the legislation to be discriminatory, arguing that business owners have the right to express their religious beliefs how they choose.

"If the gay couple was to come in and say that they wanted us to provide pizza for their wedding, we would have to say no," O'Connor told ABC 57 News. "We are a Christian establishment."

"We're not discriminating against anyone — that's just our belief and anyone has the right to believe in anything," O'Connor added. "I do not think it is targeting gays. I don't think it's discrimination. [The law is] supposed to help people that have religious belief."

Although the O'Connor family has received support on social media and raised $50,000 via a GoFundMe website, they have also been receiving death threats who disagree with their views on religious freedom.

"I don't know if we will reopen, or if we can, if it's safe to reopen," Crystal O'Connor told TheBlaze in a recent interview. "We're in hiding basically, staying in the house."