ADL pans Christian group's Holocaust comparison

Abraham Foxman calls Family Research Council president’s statement on Colorado gay marriage ruling ‘offensive’

By Lazar Berman

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11 June 2014, 6:31 am

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Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

Anti-Defamation League National Director Abraham Foxman criticized on Tuesday the head of the Family Research Council for invoking the Holocaust to protest a Colorado commission’s ruling that would force a Christian baker to prepare a wedding cake for a same-sex marriage celebration, calling the comparison “offensive and inappropriate.”

“I’m beginning to think, are re-education camps next?” said FRC President Tony Perkins during a radio broadcast last week. “When are they going to start rolling out the boxcars to start hauling off Christians?”

“There is no comparison between contemporary American political issues and the actions of Hitler’s regime during the Holocaust,” said Foxman in a statement. “Such inappropriate analogies only serve to trivialize the Holocaust and are deeply offensive to Jews and other survivors, as well as those Americans who fought valiantly against the Nazis in World War II.”

Perkins was referring to a Colorado’s Civil Rights Commission ruling in May upholding an administrative law judge’s decision ordering a baker to make cakes for same-sex weddings.

Jack Phillips, a devout Christian who owns Masterpiece Cakeshop in the Denver suburb of Lakewood, argued that the ruling violates his First Amendment rights to free speech and free exercise of his religion.

He added that he no longer makes wedding cakes, as his bakery has been so overwhelmed by supporters eager to buy cookies and brownies.

The commission also ordered Phillips to report quarterly for two years on staff anti-discrimination training.

Colorado does not recognize same-sex unions.

According to its website, FRC seeks “to advance faith, family and freedom in public policy and the culture from a Christian worldview.” The Southern Poverty Law Center designated the organization as anti-gay hate group, a controversial designation that was cited by a gunman who opened fire at the FRC’s Washington, DC headquarters in 2012 as a reason for his action.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.