Ashers Baking Company’s General Manager Daniel McArthur and his wife Amy have spoken out about some of the highs and lows of the last four and a half years, following the company’s landmark legal victory.
They admitted that the lengthy and highly public nature of the case has taken its toll.
But recognising the importance of the case for others and comforted by the knowledge that they hadn’t done anything wrong, the family kept going.
Unanimous
Last week the UK Supreme Court ruled that the bakery had not discriminated on grounds of sexual orientation, religious belief or political opinion in declining to decorate a cake with the campaign slogan ‘Support Gay Marriage’.
Judges unanimously agreed the bakery had objected to the message and not the messenger.
Shortly after the dramatic 5-0 ruling, Daniel and Amy spoke to The Christian Institute, eager to share how God and the prayers of many Christians around the world have sustained them.
‘God is good’
Daniel McArthur said: “People ask you ‘was it worth it, going through all this?’ and I answer them ‘absolutely yes.’
“To get a unanimous decision, that we were in the right all along, that we hadn’t discriminated, was an amazing result and glory to God for it.”
“We’ve had letters from nearly every continent in the world. We’ve had emails constantly coming in and we’ve had hundreds of customers come into our shops and telling us that they’re there because they support us in the stand we’re taking.”
Changes
Amy added: “A lot has changed for us over the last four and a half years, we’ve had three new additions to the family, so life has definitely got busier.
“But God has been good and brought us through the challenges that have come with the court case.”
Daniel concluded: “This all started over four years ago and we find ourselves here at the very end of it and it’s only by God’s goodness and grace that we are here and we give all the glory to Him.”
‘Gracious and dignified’
The Christian Institute’s Deputy Director for Staff and Communications, Ciarán Kelly said: “One of our most important jobs is to help protect Christians’ religious freedom by creating significant national precedents.
“We count it a privilege to have been able to do this alongside such a gracious and dignified family.
“The manner in which they have conducted themselves over the last four and a half years is testament to the grace and mercy of God.”