The owner of a bakery in Oregon is under investigation by state authorities after a lesbian couple complained he declined their order for a wedding cake.
One of the two prospective wives submitted a complaint, in which she alleges Aaron Klein called them “abominations.”
Klein denied he ever said that, though he does concede he refused to make them a cake.
“I apologized for wasting their time and said we don’t do same-sex marriages,” he said, adding he holds no animosity against them but the issue is “just something I believe in very strongly.”
Though state law prohibits a business to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, Klein contends constitutional provisions should supersede it.
“My First Amendment rights allow me to practice my religion as I see fit,” he explained.
As a strong proponent of states’ rights, I believe Oregon should be able to enact experimental laws that might be unpopular in other regions of the country. That provision should be limited, however, to any ordinance that does not run contrary to the Bill of Rights.
When a private entrepreneur is forced – under penalty of law – to conduct his business in violation of his religious beliefs, the law in question should be declared unconstitutional.
Unfortunately, as Hobby Lobby and other Christian-owned retailers learned during the implementation of ObamaCare, a rogue government left unchecked can and will violate supposedly inalienable rights in the pursuit of even more power.
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well… I guess I’ll be the first to post the “unpopular” opinion on this Baker… I am a Believer in Christ, I am saved by water and by his blood, and I would like to know if this Baker ever stops and asks himself “WWJD” (what would Jesus do?)
I don’t agree with his actions and I don’t put this in the same “boat” as Hobby Lobby either. Hobby Lobby does not want to PAY for abortion causing drugs because that would implicate them in the murder of unborn children. That is understandable. They are not barring their employees from having abortions, or getting the abortion drugs, they are just not going to pay for them.
But refusing to serve paying customers because they are lesbians is NOT what I think Jesus would want us to do. I don’t believe Jesus wants us to judge and condemn others.. That is God’s job, not ours. ‘He who is without sin cast the first stone”
I really WISH this Baker would have fullfilled the order, and just prayed for the women. He could have even told them he would pray for them. But to pass judgment on them was wrong of him and not Jesus-like. It is “Christians” like this that give us all a bad rap in the eyes of this world…
ya might try reading your bible some time……you are a very liberal person, how do ya feel about abortions?
I am against abortion for any reason and I am not a political “Liberal” if that is what you mean. I read my bible all the time and I know Jesus never treated anyone like this when he walked this earth. He condemned the sin, not the person. He showed love to sinners, not hate. And he commanded “Love thy neighbor”… in my bible any way… unless you are referring to some other bible…
This IS sin, however, even when the Lord went someplace he went and sat down and broke bread with the dregs of the area. He would Never “Ok” their sin, but he would carry on speaking the words if His Father ! I fully understand though that this is one thing that really brings out the anger and disgust. I also believe that any shop owner, retail person or whatever should have complete control over to who he sells what. It all depends what is in the heart. If it is hate… then he’s out of line……. I believe that Jesus truly loved the people, but absolutely despised the sin !
Sorry, You have it all wrong! The Bible states homosexuality is a sin, there for any christian can and should refuse servive to these heathens!
If I had a business, I would serve who I wanted to serve. If I didn’t want to serve gays, then I would not. That is my right. If gays don’t like it, then too bad. Go to a gay bakery!
we have the right to run private businesses at our discretion here in America (for now anyway) however, I feel he should not have claimed his actions were in the name of Christianity… (which is what this article alludes to with grouping it with Hobby Lobby and “Christian-owned retailers”)
@Skydiver are you implying that Christians do not commit sin?
What does that have to do with anything?
“what does that have to do with anything?” Skydiver is condemning a sinner for their sin, as if she is without sin…
There is a sign that is hung in many businesses and it states: “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.”
The two abominations have the right to practice their depravity, I can reserve the right to refuse to serve them, or have them in my home.
The question was posed, “What would Jesus do?” We do not know, we can only assume what Jesus would do. Peace, Robert Walker
Sounds like you know what Jesus would do, Mr. Walker. Evidently, he gave you the right to judge in his place. This is the 21st century, in case you hadn’t noticed. If you are comfortable with your perspective being outdated and irrelevant, that’s your right as an American.
Whom did I judge, subhub? the fact of the matter is that a businessman can reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. You will find that in the Oregon Revised Statutes, somewhere. This is just another case of the federal government trying to control the minutia of our lives. If I had been in that situation, I probably would have sold the cake. That would be my right. It is the right of the baker to refuse the service. That is the real question, in this instance. We have the natural right to associate with people of own choosing. If the government is going to try to force me to associate with homosexuals, drug dealers, prostitutes, murderers, and rapists, they will have a fight on their hands. Peace, Robert Walker
I agree with you that the businessman has the right to refuse service. As long as he is a private entity, I believe he reserves that right, assuming it is for legitimate reasons (religious, for example). My comment to you was in response to you describing the two women as “abominations”. In you last comment, did you intentionally lump homosexuals in with drug dealers and murderers? Disagreeing with homosexuality on moral / religious grounds is understandable, but these are still human beings we’re talking about. Do you consider every non-Christian to be an abomination? I think you should try giving people the benefit of the doubt, especially if all you know about them is their sexuality.
As a side note, I appreciate your civility. I have been in a few arguments on tis website, and many of the people here are more interested in name-calling than in having a real discussion.
I understand. In any civil argument or discourse, I usually learn something, so, I do my best to remain civil.
I am not certain what a ‘Christian’ is any more. I do believe in the teachings of Jesus the Christ, but I do not try to force it on anyone else. I have read the Holy Bible several times, both testaments, and in that writing, it is stated, more or less, that when men are laying with men, and women with women, the end times are near.
I have a nephew who is a homosexual, and the stories he told about his escapades are very sickening. He also stated, emphatically, that it is okay for a 30 year old man to ‘seduce’ a 9 year old boy. That’s how he got into the community. His friend’s uncle, took him and his friend to a cabin sleepover. The man seduced both boys over that weekend. The uncle died of AIDS complications.
They also have a name for straight people. We are called “breeders”. Our only purpose in life is to breed, like cattle, bodies for the use of the homosexuals. Because they cannot reproduce.
Peace, Robert Walker
I have a cousin who is gay, and he has suffered greatly for it. I honestly think that, if it was up to him, he would never have chosen to be gay. Some of our family have disowned him. Others, however, have chosen to continue to love him. We do this because, not only is he a good person, but because he needs us now more than ever. I have no doubt there are bad gay people, but there are also bad straight people. Different people have different experiences, which is why I think judging someone based on a generalization is wrong. We all have different perceptions, and like you, I remain open to listening to new ones.
Folks, if this Administration is allowed to remain in power, I am convinced that things in this country are soon going to be getting a whole lot worse than they already are. The Baker should be allowed to serve whomever he wishes in his own business, especially if it is against his religious beliefs. However we learned in the case of Hobby Lobby, that is really no longer the case.
Anyone that goes against the wishes of the “Chosen One” is punished according to their new laws. If they are not punished they are either intimidated as in the case of the Banks with Rohm Emanuel trying to dictate who and who they should not loan money to, or as in the case of the BoyScouts Of America that were and are being threatened by a number of major corporations, that any future support would be terminated, unless they change their entrance requirements, and allow homosexuals to join their organization, irrespective of a 100 year ban on allowing homosexuals, to become Boy Scouts.
What would God had done? I believe that if they had God standing in front of them… they would had been embarrassed. As was Adam and Eve. They both know as to there choice and that it is not accepted as a marriage of God….
If any business wishes to not provide service to any customer, that is owners right.
My suggestion for these two women would be to find another store that might accommodate there wishes and respect the rights of the owner and his beliefs regardless….
Nazi Governments do Nazi things, eventually even unto death of a resister. Evil is as Evil Does. Nazis and Commies are Evil.
I am a little tired of people who have never read the bible quoting it. Jesus said to the crowd “let he who is without sin cast the first stone” after which the crowd walked away, this was a lesson for the legalistic leaders of the day on the value of grace and mercy;. but the story does not end there. Christ looked at the woman and told her to “Go now and leave your life of sin.” Jesus Christ IS all about forgiveness and Grace to those who want it. Key words here salvation is for those who REPENT and ASK. God is not an absent parent who lets his children do whatever their sinful natures lead them to and contrary to Oprah, there are not many paths to heaven. God sets down the law and the penalty for sin which is eternal death and separation from Him in hell, but GOOD NEWS, He also provides a path for forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life with Him in Heaven. These Lesbians deserve our prayers and our pity, for the hardness of their hearts which keeps them in rebellion against all that is logical, moral and decent. But the hard reality people, is that without repentance there is judgement. The baker has the right to refuse service to anyone, weather they be shoeless, shirtless, or moral-less. That is the great thing about America, if you don’t get service in one place go to another, the baker is the one losing money, but that is his right.
Get over it, girls! Do you really want to eat a cake baked by someone who thinks you’re an abomination?
While I think that the baker was certainly cruel and lacking in compassion, this does open a “can of worms”. Laws stating that a private business owner cannot refuse services to anyone or it will be deemed discrimination and there will be appropriate fines and punishments seem to me to be an invasion of privacy and a form of legal coercion to force me to do something that I do not want to do.
Should a private business owner (not a corporation) be forced to provide services that are against his faith or even just against his principles? For example: Does this mean that if I am a printer and Rev. Phelps of the hateful Westboro Baptist Church that pickets funerals of gays should come to me and order 500 anti-gay picket signs that I must comply and print them???? Does this mean that if I am a tailor or dressmaker that I should be forced to sew robes and banners for the Ku Klux Klan ? Where is MY freedom of choice?
I kind of always thought a private business had the right to refuse service to anyone. I’m all for gay marriage. It’s about time that the gay/lesbian community can enjoy the benefits of marriage, and the pains such as divorces(Loosing HALF), credit crashing by spouses, high auto insurance premiums for their reckless partners, ect. With that said, in today’s economy, if a moron wants to turn away business so be it. If I was getting married and a baker said “No, I don’t do your kind of wedding.” I would have been grateful to leave his store with that knowledge, and let my friends know the owner’s beliefs. Filing a complaint, and bringing attention to this baker could have the opposite effect. Think Chic-Fil-A with record sales. Would you, or anybody else want to eat this haters food? I would suggest that he be forced to put a sign in his bakery window stating he doesn’t do gay/lesbian wedding cakes. It would save everybody’s time.
that sign suggestion is actually a very good idea and business owners like this should consider that like the signs they post barring weapons, and shoeless and shirtless individuals.
This S%#@ really is WRONG!!! Klein has EVERY right to refuse service to whom ever He likes, this is His Company! Don’t get me wrong, I have friends & family that are Gay/ Lesbian’s (as do MANY of Us do) ~ It is just another VICE that Nobummer & His Crew, are using AGAINST WE THE PEOPLE!! Keep Us at one another’s throats!
he has definitely continued to divide us during his entire first term and now into his second term… and I do agree private businesses should be “off-boundaries”
You are correct there, billiegirlsoco. Obama is the most divisive President that we have had. He ran on a platform that said that he would unite both sides of the aisle and yet he has not been able to effectively work with anyone even members of his own party. And what’s worse, he is fostering and promoting class and racial warfare among Americans and that is pitiful. Just because he, in all of his books, rarely acknowledges the white family who raised him while worshiping the Kenyan father who abandoned him doesn’t mean that other children resulting from mixed marriages feel the same way.
Excuse me people. Most of you have gone way over board if not clean off the story here. Every business is legally allowed to refuse service to anyone for any reason. They are not held to a reason for the refusal of service.
As to this Baker he should have just said “I have the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason” when the media or anyone else asked him. Even if he didn’t sell to them because of hate – well he will have to answer for that but he certainly doesn’t have to answer to any of you or the lesbian’s of this story.
People really need to quit making something out of nothing. You cannot force nor legislate acceptance people.
Why do you call it hate? I don’t like being around homosexuals. But, certainly, I don’t hate them. They have the same rights as anyone else, but I don’t want to be forced to associate with them. If they come into my place of business, they will be served, but if they don’t come in, I can do without the business.
Peace,
Robert Walker