Another One ‘Bites’ the Dust

I wrote about a Colorado bakery facing a law suit in my blog posting dated July 24, 2013.  Now a Gresham, Oregon bakery that refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple … prompting a state investigation … has shut its doors.

 

According to KGW.com, reporters stopped by ‘Sweet Cakes by Melissa’ and found the bakery completely empty.  All counter tops, display cases and decorations were gone.  Hanging in the window was a sign from the Oregon Family Council that read “Religious freedom is under attack in Gresham.”  As first reported in Wweek.com, ‘Sweet Cakes by Melissa’ posted on their Facebook page – “This will be our last weekend at the shop we are moving our business to an in home bakery.  I will post our new number soon.”

 

In January, Laurel Bowman said ‘Sweet Cakes by Melissa’ refused to sell her a cake after learning it would be for a same-sex wedding.  Aaron Klein, one of the owners of the ‘Sweet Cakes by Melissa,’ refused to sell the cake because he said marriage should be only between a man and a woman.  Bowman later filed a complaint with the justice department, which Klein’s attorney, Herbert Grey, responded to.  In his letter, Grey says his client “elected not to participate in an event that is not even officially recognized under Oregon law when doing so would violate their constitutionally-protected conscience and religious beliefs.”

 

In August, the Bureau of Labor and Industries said it was conducting an investigation to determine if the bakery violated the Oregon Equality Act of 2007, which protects the rights of LGBT Oregonians.  Most of the comments on the bakery's Facebook page are largely supportive of the business.  “I'm sorry to hear this.  It’s very frustrating to have people do all they can to cause others strife just because they don't agree with a lifestyle.  I will keep you all in my prayers.  Don't let them get you down. You will survive this and all other tests through your faith.  God bless Melissa,” one woman writes.

 

As I concluded my July 24 posting – “Those who believe in religious liberty had better earnestly pray for a Godly ruling … or the dominos will fall one after another on business owners of religious conscience.”

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel