Oregon Christian Bakers Lose Appeal

Church Militant ^ | 12/29/17 | David Nussman

[marshmallow]

Sued by same-sex couple for not baking them a "wedding" cake

SALEM, Ore. (ChurchMilitant.com) - Despite their appeal, a Christian couple in Oregon is being ordered to pay $135,000 to a same-sex couple after refusing to bake a cake for their "marriage."

In January 2013, spouses Aaron and Melissa Klein declined to make a same-sex "wedding" cake for Rachel and Laurel Bowman-Cryer. The lesbian couple retaliated by filing a discrimination complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries.

In 2015, a judge ruled in favor of the homosexual couple and ordered the Christians to pay $135,000 for emotional damage and mental distress.

On Thursday, a panel of judges on the Oregon Court of Appeals upheld the fine.

The Kleins have had to close their bakery, "Sweetcakes by Melissa" outside Portland, during this legal battle.

The Christian couple was represented in the Court of Appeals by attorneys from the First Liberty Institute (FLI).

First Liberty Institute President Kelly Shackelford said in a statement Thursday, "Freedom of expression for ourselves should require freedom of expression for others. Today, the Oregon Court of Appeals decided that Aaron and Melissa Klein are not entitled to the Constitution's promises of religious liberty and free speech."

[Cold Heart]

It has been a thought

[Kickass Conservative]

Godfather Justice.

Either your Signature or your Brains will be on that Contract.

[Palio di Siena]

Yep

[healy61]

I’m good with losing tax exempt status. The preachers could really take politicians to task; speak out on abortion as they see fit; and discuss all manner of support for politics.

[El Cid]

I know that they are probably sick of this (I believe this case has been going on for nearly 5 years now), but are they appealing this abominable decision to the U.S. Supreme Court?

[so_real]

I live in Wisconsin where we have a near even split between the God fearing citizens and the godless liberal subjects. Most days I think we can save this state. Some days I'm ready to pack my bags and let it rot. Point me to place where Christians can live freely (preferably with hills, trees, and seasons) and I'll meet you there!

[daniel1212]

I wondered, if you set up a company online to take orders for wedding cakes out of state who would pay the baker as a subcontractor to fulfill the order, wouldn’t this get around this discrimination of Christians?

What is the difference? You are still a party to evil, whether you do the killing or hire a hit man.

[dila813]

I think everyone is missing the point, you can refuse orders out of the reach of the law of the state without them being able to fine you.

[daniel1212]

A valid analogy, as would be asking a Muslim artist to make a work of art with a Muhammad cartoon.

[jonrick46]

The Oregon Court of Appeals tells me all I need to know about this injustice.

FUO!

[Axenolith]

Churches have never been subject to taxes anyway. When they accept an “exemption” they are opting into the system. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” is pretty straightforward.

[TheBattman]

Since when do the “rights” of one group override those of another?

To take it the next step - what part of the Constitution guarantees that a business will make your wedding cake? Because I can show line and exact sentence that guarantees the right to religious expression...

[DiogenesLamp]

The big problem I see here was that the bakers had a storefront.

The big problem I see here is that the people did not rise in wrath and make all these tyrants and evil doers flee for their lives.

I note that they do not pull this sort of sh*t on Muslims because they know very well it would be a death sentence for them.

[Scrambler Bob]

I’m good with losing tax exempt status.
= = =

Isn’t the std. deduction supposed to double?

Folks can quit playing the charitable deduction game.

[SoCal Pubbie]

What I would do in the bakers place is hire a subcontractor at the exact price I sold the cake to the customer. I would then tell the customer I complied with the law, but did not bake the cake, nor profit from the work. Have a nice day.

[TBP]

So now we can force a Muslim baker to provide a cake for a bar mitzvah or a “Draw Muhammad” contest or Christmas or Easter celebrations. We can demand a BLT from a Muslim deli.

Could someone demand that a black baker or printer provide goods and services for a KKK rally?

Because there is no difference. Zero.

[MarMema]

Come on over across the pond to northern Michigan. Flags everywhere and you almost never open your own door in a town.

Pay is low and winters are hard, not much hills, but Christianity and respect for veterans is the norm.

Our liberals are downstate.

[RKBA Democrat]

Rise in wrath? This is Oregon. The people there agree with the result. Given their druthers the state would have put the bakers in prison as well. And the populace would stand by and smugly assert that “yup, they got what they deserved! “

The bakers made the mistake of thinking their Christian viewpoint would be respected and protected by anti-Christian politicians in an overtly anti-Christian environment.

We have 2000 plus years of experience surviving and thriving in an anti-Christian environment. Yet rather than rely on that experience and lessons-learned, we rely on a bunch of politicians to come to our aid instead?

[Big Mack]

Look into SE TN. Everyone here say to you “Have a blessed day.” Within 15 miles of my home in the foothills of the Smokey Mtns. there are more than 40 churches. Everyone invites you to come see their church, but no one makes much if you don’t.
The 7 years I have lived here I hear only Merry Christmas, not Happy Holiday.
Plus there is no state income tax, and most of the people I know have carry permits.

[so_real]

Good people come from northern Michigan. Ironically when I lived in Georgia, my next door neighbor was from Michigan. He quickly became my best mate down south. Just like Wisconsin, what grinds Michigan down most is the populations in the southern big cities.