Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who is in the running for the Republican party's presidential nominee, has spoken in support of the rights of Christian business owners to refuse service to gay weddings if it goes against their religious beliefs.
In an interview with CBN News, Bush said that the issue is not a matter of discriminating against same sex couples but rather a decision based on spiritual conviction.
Bush said that he is completely okay with a vendor refusing to provide services so long as it is based on a religious belief and not tainted with anything else.
"A big country, a tolerant country ought to be able to figure out the difference between discriminating someone because of their sexual orientation and not forcing someone to participate in a wedding that they find goes against their moral beliefs," Bush said.
In recent months, the question of service provision, religion and sexuality has become a hot button issue, with court cases arising over incidents of people being refused service because of their sexual orientation, or business owners being forced to provide services to same sex partners despite their religious convictions.
The issue was further fanned by the recent signing of Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, which allow business owners to cite religious rights as a reasons for refusing service. Gay rights group have condemned the acts, and cited them as a form of discrimination.
Bush suggested Americans settle the issue once and for all.
"We should be able to figure this out. This should not be that complicated gosh it is right now," he said.
However, he maintained in the interview that marriage is not a constitutional right and Americans should be stalwart supporters of traditional marriage.
