Seven Years Later, Christian Family Still Fighting to Defend Beliefs, Reverse Fine: 'I Am Hopeful And Putting My Hope In Jesus'

Josh Shepherd : Jan 17, 2020
The Stream

After the US Supreme Court ordered their case be reheard in Oregon, an attorney for Aaron and Melissa Klein provides the latest on their religious liberty battle.

[Stream.org] "We lost everything we loved and worked so hard to build." (Image: Aaron and Melissa Klein /YouTube-First Liberty Institute /via The Stream)

Those words from an Oregon mom came after the latest hearing in a seven-year legal battle.

The religious liberty case has captured the nation's attention ... and has already been considered once by the US Supreme Court.

On Thursday, Aaron and Melissa Klein appeared before the Oregon Court of Appeals in Salem, Oregon to defend their rights and livelihood.

In January 2013, frequent customer Rachel Cryer entered the Kleins' family-owned bakery. When she asked them to create a custom cake to celebrate her same-sex wedding ceremony, they declined.

They stated such creative expression would endorse the same-sex union and conflict with their religious beliefs.

"It wasn't them as a couple," said Melissa Klein in a recent interview. "We had served them in the past. It had to do with their event. That particular event, we couldn't partake in."

Christian Bakers Bullied by BOLI

A government agency soon hit the Kleins with $135,000 in fines—directed at the two personally, rather than their business.

The fines and associated negative publicity forced the parents of five to ultimately close their shop.

Now a panel of three state judges are weighing whether the state Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) acted with hostility.

Stephanie Taub serves as senior counsel at First Liberty Institute, a public interest nonprofit group based in Plano, Texas that represents the Kleins.

"This is not the kind of respectful treatment of religion that is required by the Supreme Court," said Taub. "Government officials must remain neutral when considering issues of religion."

Klein briefly addressed the media following Thursday's hearing. "I think that it went really well," she said in a statement. "Maybe someday we can, once again, reopen our bakery and serve everyone—without being forced to celebrate events that conflict with our religious beliefs.

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