The Aquila Report

Your independent source for news and commentary from and about conservative, orthodox evangelicals in the Reformed and Presbyterian family of churches

Coram Deo Conference - click for details
  • Biblical
    and Theological
  • Churches
    and Ministries
  • People
    in the News
  • World
    and Life News
  • Lifestyle
    and Reviews
    • Books
    • Movies
    • Music
  • Opinion
    and Commentary
  • General Assembly
    and Synod Reports
    • ARP General Synod
    • EPC General Assembly
    • OPC General Assembly
    • PCA General Assembly
    • PCUSA General Assembly
    • RPCNA Synod
    • URCNA Synod
  • Subscribe
    to Weekly Email
  • Biblical
    and Theological
  • Churches
    and Ministries
  • People
    in the News
  • World
    and Life News
  • Lifestyle
    and Reviews
    • Books
    • Movies
    • Music
  • Opinion
    and Commentary
  • General Assembly
    and Synod Reports
    • ARP General Synod
    • EPC General Assembly
    • OPC General Assembly
    • PCA General Assembly
    • PCUSA General Assembly
    • RPCNA Synod
    • URCNA Synod
  • Subscribe
    to Weekly Email
  • Search
Home/Featured/‘Mafia Tactics’ Force Oregon Bakery to Close

‘Mafia Tactics’ Force Oregon Bakery to Close

Oregon bakery closes after being sued for not making a wedding cake for a homosexual couple

Written by Leigh Jones, WNS | Friday, September 6, 2013

In February, Laurel Bowman and Rachel Cryer filed a complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries because the Kleins refused to make their wedding cake. Although the Kleins, who are Christians, say they have no problem serving homosexual customers, they don’t want to use their creative talents to participate in something they believe is wrong.

 

An Oregon bakery fighting a discrimination complaint because it wouldn’t make a wedding cake for a homosexual couple closed its doors on Saturday.

In a note taped to the bakery’s front door, owners Aaron and Melissa Klein wrote, “This fight is not over. We will continue to stand strong. … The LORD is good and we will continue to serve HIM with all our heart.” In an interview on the Fox News Channel, Aaron Klein blamed the shutdown on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) activists who urged customers to boycott the bakery and threatened other vendors who did business with the couple.

On the Sweet Cakes by Melissa Facebook page, the couple said they would continue to operate the business out of their home. It is not immediately clear what effect that will have on the complaint pending against them.

In February, Laurel Bowman and Rachel Cryer filed a complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries because the Kleins refused to make their wedding cake. Although the Kleins, who are Christians, say they have no problem serving homosexual customers, they don’t want to use their creative talents to participate in something they believe is wrong.

The state issued the official complaint on Aug. 13 and gave the Kleins 14 days to respond. Although Oregon’s constitution says marriage shall only be between one man and one woman, the state’s 2007 Equality Act protects LGBT people from discrimination in areas including employment, jury service, and public school education. Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian said last month he wanted to “rehabilitate” Sweet Cakes, not shut the business down.

But Aaron Klein told WORLD in August that the business was already suffering. In an interview with a local television station, he said “mafia tactics” forced the couple out of their shop in Gresham. Even as they packed up their belongings, someone broke into their bakery truck and ransacked it.

“I hope that if nothing else, we’ve given people that believe the way we believe the strength to stand up,” Aaron Klein said. “I believe that we’re living in a time that’s very hostile towards Christians. Our First Amendment rights are being stripped away and I’m willing to stand up and take this fight.”

Copyright © 2013 God’s World Publications. Used with permission.

Related Article: Bakery Threatened for Refusing to Make Gay Wedding Cake Closes its Doors

Related Posts:

  • Colorado Supreme Court Dismisses Lawsuit Harassing…
  • Religious Need not Apply, Says Oregon
  • Jack Phillips Dragged Back to Court
  • God’s Grace to Complainers (Numbers 20:1-13)
  • Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of Colorado Graphic…

Subscribe to Free “Top 10 Stories” Email

Get the top 10 stories from The Aquila Report in your inbox every Tuesday morning.

Name(Required)

Archives

Subscribe, Follow, Listen

  • email-alt
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • apple-podcasts
  • anchor
Belhaven University
Coram Deo Conference - click for details

Books

Tool Small by Craig Biehl - Why Atheists Can't Know What They Say They Know
Drawing Water with Joy: 100 Devotions from the Wells of Salvation - click for details
Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life - by Charlie Kirk
  • About
  • Advertise Here
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Email Alerts
  • Leadership
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Principles and Practices
  • Privacy Policy

Free Subscription

Aquila Report Email Alerts

Books

The Letter of Jude - book from Tulip Publishing
  • About
  • Advertise Here
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Principles and Practices
  • RSS Feed
  • Subscribe to Weekly Email Alerts

DISCLAIMER: The Aquila Report is a news and information resource. We welcome commentary from readers; for more information visit our Letters to the Editor link. All our content, including commentary and opinion, is intended to be information for our readers and does not necessarily indicate an endorsement by The Aquila Report or its governing board. In order to provide this website free of charge to our readers,  Aquila Report uses a combination of donations, advertisements and affiliate marketing links to  pay its operating costs.

Return to top of page

Website design by Five More Talents · Copyright © 2026 The Aquila Report · Log in