Posted on 07/09/2015 7:46:17 AM PDT by xzins
Two Christian bakers who refused to bake a cake for a lesbian wedding have been ordered to pay $135,000 in damages by July 13 or else the state of Oregon could place a lien on their home.
Aaron and Melissa Klein, the owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, were punished by the state's Bureau of Labor and Industry (BOLI) for unlawfully discriminating against a same-sex couple.
The Kleins, who are devout evangelical Christians, argued that baking the cake would be a violation of their religious beliefs.
The BOLI ruling ordered the mom-and-pop bakers to pay $135,000 to the lesbian couple. They were also slapped with a gag order that prohibits them from speaking publicly about their refusal to participate in or bake wedding cakes for same-sex unions.
And now they have until July 13 to pay the damages or else face additional fines and a possible lien on their home.
"This is intimidation and bullying—that's exactly what it is," Klein told me in a telephone interview." They are trying to strong-arm me into handing over $135,000 to the two girls and if I win on appeal—they will never pay me back."
A BOLI spokesman confirmed they sent a standard payment letter to the Kleins' attorney.
"The letter informs them that if we do not hear from them, we may turn the matter over to the Department of Revenue, which can place a lien on real property," the spokesman told me.
BOLI said they would also be willing to accept either a full payment or payment arrangements.
"Of course, they can also ask for a stay of enforcement while they pursue their appeal," the spokesman said.
But there's a catch. The person who will determine whether or not to stay the order—is BOLI Commissioner Brad Avakian—a vocal supporter of the LGBTQIA movement.
"The judge, jury and executioner are all in one place," said Anna Harmon, the Kleins' attorney. "He is intent on using his office to root out thought and speech with which he personally disagrees."
Harmon, who is affiliated with Alliance Defending Freedom, said they were expecting the payment letter that came from BOLI.
"This letter, while it's the normal procedure, continues to show the state is not backing down," she told me. "They don't think they did anything wrong here."
Avakian's strong arm tactics against the Christian bakers have outraged Christians across the nation.
"This guy would make Mussolini proud," said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research council. "This is a wannabe dictator."
It certainly appears that Avakian and the state of Oregon have declared war on the Klein family.
"Not only do they want to drive them out of business, but they want to make them homeless," Perkins told me.
The Kleins say they are filing a stay and do plan on appealing the state's decision.
"Brad and his cohorts at BOLI have overstepped their constitutional rights in requiring me to cease and desist from my constitutional freedom," Mr. Klein said. "I will fight them with every last breath I have."
Mrs. Klein said she would not be intimidated by Avakian's hard line tactics.
"We are so going to fight this, oh my gosh," she said. "It's making us stronger and emboldening us to stand up to this. Aaron and I are fighting for every American out there—for their freedom. We are not backing down at all."
And while the viciousness of the attacks against the Kleins might be unsettling—Harmon said it really should serve as a source of inspiration.
"What a time to be an American," she said. "It's a hard time—our freedoms are challenged—but what a time to be able to stand and have courage and say, 'I have a moment in time where I can be a voice for that.'"
And the Kleins are not ready to throw in the towel just yet.
"He definitely messed with the wrong Christians," Mrs. Klein told me.
Todd Starnes is host of Fox News & Commentary, heard on hundreds of radio stations. Sign up for his American Dispatch newsletter, be sure to join his Facebook page, and follow him on Twitter. His latest book is God Less America.
This penalty is so obviously an 8th amendment violation that levies an excessive fine of $135,000 over a wedding cake. In that is against them because they are Christian, it also violates the “cruel and unusual punishments” section of the 8th amendment, also.
And before that, it’s a violation of their first amendment religion and speech rights.
This, my fellow freepers, is pure religious persecution.
Don’t pay! Don’t do it.
Simply refuse.
Is there a way we can help them refuse?
The bakers should just come out as devout Muslims. They would then be off the hook.
It’s pretty obvious that the government and liberals don’t extend ANY constitutional protections to Christians.
I’d bake them a cake.
But I’d ‘forget’ some ingredients.....................like sugar....................
totalitarianism
There are funding sites for them, and I don’t want them to lose their house, but I want them NOT to pay.
This is OBVIOUSLY a cruel and unusual, excessive fine and a violation of the 8th amendment.
Explain how you get from the value of a cake to putting a lien on someone’s HOUSE other than by vindictiveness!
Fascism on steroids.
It is persecution and regardless of how it ends, the individual that is orchestrating that persecution will never be disciplined for it.
I would prefer they burn everything to the ground and declare bankruptcy rather than give these fascists one thin penny.
A massive FREEP on Brad Avakian's front lawn, letting them know we're watching, and we won't allow it to happen?
Can anyone tell me what the hell is the GOP family research etc doing about this.
This is a tyrannical Govt pushing its power onto private citizens and forcing them to ignore their first amendment.
Five letters isn't enough anymore? I give up.
I sure hope they’re lawyered up but good! I would fight this to the bitter end, were it me. And it could be any of us!
You never know what fresh new hell the LibTards in this town will think up!
Go Fund Me yanked their account, but it did hit $109,000.00! People obviously care.
Avakian should do a lot of jail time for violating the Klein's Constitutional Rights!
I bet Avakian’s heroes are the pigs in Animal Farm.
I see sarcasm in this statement.
These folks should be applauded for standing up for Jesus Christ!
Avakian is one of the most radical leftists in the state.
You’re absolutely correct!!! Gross violations of the 8th and 1st Amendments.
Don’t pay the fine!
They also need to state that AVAKARIAN TOOK CAMPAIGN MONEY FROM A PRO-GAY POLITICAL GROUP.
Conflict of interest and using the color of office to intimidate and promote an ideology.
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