CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — During an appearance on Monday at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, Republican presidential candidate and Ohio Gov. John Kasich suggested that religious businesses shouldn’t be able to decline to service same-sex celebrations.

Kasich, who identifies as an Anglican, and personally believes that marriage is between a man and a woman, was asked a variety of questions ranging from the topics of climate change, religious freedom, immigration and creationism. Reports note that at times Kasich was careful in his responses, including in discussing religious freedom.

He suggested that while churches should have conscience protections, businesses should “move on” in regard to homosexuality.

“I think frankly, our churches should not be forced to do anything that’s not consistent with them. But if you’re a cupcake maker and somebody wants a cupcake, make them a cupcake,” said the Ohio governor. “Let’s not have a big lawsuit or argument over all this stuff. Move on. The next thing, you know, they might be saying if you’re divorced you shouldn’t get a cupcake.”

The businesses that have found themselves fighting civil rights complaints for declining to service same-sex “weddings” have all stated that they regularly serve homosexuals, and have done so for years, but cannot fulfill orders that would be tantamount to participation in an event that would make them “partakers in another man’s sins.” (1 Timothy 5:22) None have declined to make cakes or sell flowers in general to homosexuals.

As previously reported, during a presidential debate last August, Kasich, 63, was asked by Fox’s Megyn Kelly what he would do if one of his children came out as a homosexual since he personally opposes same-sex nuptials. He outlined that he recently attended the “gay wedding” of a friend and cited “strong faith” and “God’s unconditional love” as factors in doing so.

“[G]uess what? I just went to a wedding of a friend of mine who happens to be gay,” Kasich explained. “Because somebody doesn’t think the way I do doesn’t mean that I can’t care about them or I can’t love them.”

“So if one of my daughters happened to be that, of course I would love them and I would accept them. Because you know what? That’s what we’re taught when we have strong faith,” he stated. “I’m going to love them no matter what they do, because you know what? God lives me unconditional love. I’m going to give it to my family, and my friends, and the people around me.”

“Issues like that are planted to divide us,” Kasich asserted.

Peter Ould, a former homosexual who now serves as a minister for the Church of England, outlined last year that marriage is meant to mirror Christ and His bride, the Church, and so Christians should not involve themselves in anything that would profane the sacred institution.

“Marriage is a God-given ordinance that speaks to more than just the love between two people. Biblical teaching on marriage shows us that the union of a man and woman is the icon of the union of Christ and His Church,” he said. “The Book of Revelation envisions the great wedding feast at the end of time, the union of the Bridegroom and His bride.”

“So doing marriage incorrectly is an act of idolatry. It’s a rejection of both the ordinance God has given and the meaning of that ordinance,” Ould continued. “Since the gender of the participants in marriage is important, mixing those sexes up destroys the point marriage was meant to represent. How can a Christian be involved in such a thing?”

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