Jeb Bush: A ‘Tolerant Country’ Supports Religious Beliefs On Gay Marriage

Potential presidential candidate Jeb Bush shared his views on religious freedoms in an interview held Saturday with the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). According to Bush, “a tolerant country” should allow “people of faith…the right to act on their conscience.”

This commentary is in response to a question regarding the Supreme Court’s decision on the constitutional right to same-sex marriage. He calls for “stalwart supporters of traditional marriage” in order to “restore committed, loving family life with a mom and dad.”

He also let his Catholic roots show when he called marriage between a man and a woman “a sacrament,” which is one of the seven most important ceremonies of the Catholic faith.

Soon after, Bush was asked if he believed in a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, which is the current argument facing the Supreme Court today. Bush stated that he does not believe in a constitutional right to gay marriage, and he implicates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as having the same view just four years ago, which you’ll find is true if you go back to the presidential debate preceding the 2012 presidential debate. However, he acknowledges that the view on gay marriage is evolving at “warp pace,” and that people’s views can change.

As the interview moved on, it began addressing the defense of religious beliefs, and it looks like Jeb Bush, a devout Catholic and Republican nominee favorite, is very interested in protecting those rights. He expressed the belief that this country should be able to figure out how to balance various moral beliefs, whether it’s for or against gay marriage. He told CBN, “People ought to be able to express their faith, but also act on it in the public square.”

When asked if it was okay for vendors to deny services for same-sex weddings, Jeb Bush responded “Absolutely, if it’s based on a religious belief.” He then used the example of the florist in Washington state who lost her business and more based on her religious beliefs.

“A big country, a tolerant country ought to be able to figure out the difference between discriminating against someone because of their sexual orientation and not forcing someone to participate in a wedding that they find goes against their moral beliefs.”

Despite his own personal beliefs, Bush seems to have the greater good in mind. In a statement issued earlier this year, Bush explained.

“I hope that we can show respect for the good people on all sides of the gay and lesbian marriage issue — including couples making lifetime commitments to each other who are seeking greater legal protections and those of us who believe marriage is a sacrament and want to safeguard religious liberty.”

Any Republican candidate is in a tough spot politically with this particular debate, but it isn’t over, and Jeb Bush will likely have more to say on the gay marriage subject in the coming years.

[Image via Insider Fox News]