Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a candidate for
the Republican presidential nomination, on Thursday vowed to stand
for the right of Christians to refuse to serve gay and lesbian
couples based on their religious beliefs.
Cruz made his pledge during a gathering
of pastors hosted by the Family Research Council (FRC), a vocal
opponent of LGBT rights.
Cruz told the pastors that he was
“heartbroken” to see the most controversial provisions of
so-called religious freedom bills in Arkansas and Indiana that
opponents said would allow businesses to discriminate against gay men
and lesbians removed after businesses threatened to boycott the
states.
“Just a few weeks ago, we saw the
battles that played out in Indiana and Arkansas. And it was
heartbreaking,” Cruz said.
“The modern Democratic Party has
become so radical, so extreme, that they have determined that their
devotion to mandatory gay marriage in all 50 states trumps any
allegiance to religious liberty under the First Amendment.”
“And let me tell you something that
was even sadder, was just how many Republicans ran for the hills.”
“I can tell you this: I will always,
always, always stand and fight for religious liberty of every
American!” he
added.