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Americans: Religious Liberty Trumps Gay Rights

CBN

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Most Americans say religious freedom should take priority over gay rights, according to a new Associated Press-GFK poll.

About 56 percent say the government needs to protect religious liberties when they conflict with gay rights.

Only 40 percent say it should be the other way around.

Meanwhile, 52 percent say wedding-related businesses should be allowed to refuse service to same-sex couples.

Christian business owners in a number of states, from Colorado to Washington, have been punished for choosing not to provide services for same-sex weddings.

Some of those people are being slapped with crushing fines, like Aaron and Melissa Klein of Sweet Cakes Bakery in Oregon.

"We just found out that the judge has made his decision. He is ordering that we pay $135,000 in emotional damages," the Kleins wrote on their Facebook page last Friday.

"This money will not come from the business, but instead would have to be paid from money that should be going to pay for food and housing for us and our five children.... This amount will financially ruin us. Our government was put in place to protect the people, not to punish people because of their faith," they said.

Samaritan's Purse has stepped in to help the Kleins raise money after GoFundMe rejected a fundraiser on the Klein's behalf.

Meanwhile, the new AP-GFK poll found a distinct split between Republicans and Democrats when it comes to religious freedom for business owners.

Most Democrats opposed religious rights for business owners whose faith conflicts with same-sex marriage.

Most Republicans thought businesses should have the right to refuse service, whether generally or for wedding matters.

Just a quarter of Americans call gay rights a very or extremely important issue to them personally, while half call religious liberties a very or extremely important issue.

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