Victimised McArthur family showed grace and composure throughout same-sex cake debacle

I AGREE with the headline on Lindy McDowell’s article (‘Ashers verdict was correct, but with a little grace solving this should have always been a piece of cake’, Life, October 13), but would have to take issue with her on a couple of points.

She says the Ashers lobby was entrenched and self-righteous. I must have been watching something different from her as it struck me — and many others, too —how calm and eirenic was their response.

At no time was the McArthur family anything other than gracious, and they never uttered a derogatory word about the person who had caused them so much upset.

The Christian Institute was also very measured in its response, taking care not to say anything which could be construed as hateful.

I don’t know why Lindy McDowell finds the phrase ‘love the sinner, but hate the sin’ judgemental and horrible. After all, that was what Christ did and that was why he came to save us. And I never heard the McArthurs say that, either.

And can I point out that, when the order was turned down, an explanation was given by Ashers, but the response of the complainant was not to sit down and talk, but go immediately to the Equality Commission, which also did not sit down and talk but immediately pursued the case in court. So, Ashers cannot be blamed for that.

Thankfully, common sense prevailed this time. I hope it will stop other Christian businesses from having to go through the trauma that the McArthur family endured, when all Gareth Lee had to do was go to another baker, as he eventually did.

STELLA WILSON Tandragee, Co Armagh