STERLING HEIGHTS -- The city of Sterling Heights became the first municipality in Macomb County on June 17 to pass an ordinance that could have implications for religious business owners who object to being involved in practices that violate their faith.

The ordinance was described by proponents as a nondiscrimination bill for gay and transgendered people in housing, accommodations and employment, but several of those who attended the ordinance’s second reading expressed objections both to the need and its potential impact on religious liberty.

Fr. John Simoneau, LC, associate pastor of SS. Cyril & Methodius Parish in Sterling Heights, attended the meeting, but said he didn’t feel objections to the measure were adequately heard.

“It’s driving me nuts because I answered all their questions, but they’re not answering mine,” said Fr. Simoneau, who also sent a two-page letter to the city council expressing his objections. “Show me why we need this?”

Fr. Simoneau was joined by several others who expressed concerns about whether the new ordinance — which was described as "preventive" and includes up to a $500 fine for violations — could potentially lead to situations like in other states, where, for instance, a Colorado baker was sued for refusing to provide a cake for a same-sex wedding, or an Arizona photographer was sued for declining to photograph a same-sex commitment ceremony.

“Right now, there is no logic to them bringing this law forward,” Fr. Simoneau said. “They didn’t show test cases; they didn’t even have anybody they could have tested it on. Given that we’ve opened the door to arbitrary judgment, and we’ve lost the founding of our legal system of objectives in favor of subjectives, there could be danger to that.”

Fr. Simoneau said just because he’s a priest doesn’t mean his objections are religiously based.

“I went dressed as a priest because that’s who I am, but I went as a citizen,” he said. “If they had at least attempted to address my concerns, I would be happy. But they didn’t.”

The city council approved the measure on a 7-0 vote during the standing-room only meeting that included many members of the press. Supporters and opponents of the measure each spoke before the votes were cast.

“When (a reporter) asked me about it, he said, ‘Aren’t you afraid of being sued?’” Fr. Simoneau said. “And I said, ‘Why? I’m protected under the law as much as they are.' But the mere fact that he asked it meant that I should fear something here, just for taking a position on it.”