Melissa Klein and her husband Aaron are the owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, a bakery in Portland, Oregon. They were in the news a lot earlier this year for refusing to bake a cake for a lesbian wedding, then releasing the couple’s information to the public, decisions that eventually cost them $135,000 in fines. They didn’t take a personal hit, however, as like-minded Christians donated more than $350,000 in one online fundraiser for them and more than $515,000 altogether.
Despite the windfall, they haven’t paid the fine. And it’s not because they’re appealing it, since they’re not even taking the proper steps to file an appeal:
Most recently, one of [the Kleins’] lawyers wrote to the labor bureau to say: “Our clients do not have a bond or irrevocable letter of credit in place and have no further plans to obtain either one.”
…
“It’s difficult to understand the Kleins’ unwillingness to pay the debt when they have, very publicly, raised nearly a half million dollars,” labor bureau spokesman Charlie Burr said in an email Wednesday. “They are entitled to a full and fair review of the case, but do not have the right to disregard a legally binding order.”
Is anyone surprised? These people are Christian. That means the law doesn’t apply to them, don’t you know.
The Kleins’ lawyers won’t comment further, but the state has already put into motion plans to go after their property since they won’t pay up. It’s a process known in the legal world as “Christian Persecution.” Seriously, I wouldn’t be surprised if they hold out just to see if the state will take their bakery from them — only so they could complain about it when they’re making rounds on the conservative Christian circuit.
That’s the ultimate form of modern martyrdom.
(Image via Shutterstock. Portions of this article were published earlier)
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