After a five-year legal battle, California judge Eric Bradshaw ruled in favor of a baker who refused to bake a cake for a lesbian couple, citing her Christian beliefs and referring the couple to another baker.
According to Bradshaw’s verdict, Catharine “Cathy” Miller, who owns Tastries Bakery in Bakersfield, did not violate any anti-discrimination laws by refusing to bake a cake for the wedding renewal of Eileen and Mireya Rodriguez-Del Rio on the grounds of sincerely held religious beliefs.
“Miller’s only motivation, at all times, was to act consistent with her sincere Christian beliefs about what the Bible teaches regarding marriage,” Bradshaw wrote. “That motivation was not unreasonable, or arbitrary, nor did it emphasize irrelevant differences or perpetuate stereotypes.”
The suit had been filed by the California state Department of Fair Housing and Employment, whom Bradshaw has now ruled failed to prove that Miller intentionally discriminated against the couple.
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“Defendants’ pure and expressive speech is entitled to protection under the First Amendment,” Bradshaw wrote, explaining that the wedding cakes Miller sells constitute “pure speech” and noting that Miller’s design standard clearly outlined her convictions regarding marriage prior to the couple asking her to bake a cake to celebrate the renewal of their same-sex marriage vows.
The plaintiff had suggested that Miller either stop selling cakes entirely or delegate the process of making and selling cakes for same-sex weddings to employees, both of which proposals Bradshaw rejected.
“Of course we’re disappointed, but not surprised,” said Eileen Rodriguez-Del Rio of the ruling. “We anticipate that our appeal will have a different result.”
“It’s been a long five years,” Miller said, adding that while her Christian convictions kept her from participating in a same-sex marriage celebration, it was never her intent to hurt anybody. “I’m hoping that in our community we can grow together, and we should understand that we shouldn’t push any agenda against anyone else.”
Miller was also supported by the Thomas More Society, a conservative Roman Catholic public-interest law firm, who called the ruling “a First Amendment victory.”
“There’s a certain irony there, that a law intended to protect individuals from religious discrimination was used to discriminate against Cathy for her religious beliefs,” said Paul Jonna, a lawyer who serves as Thomas More Society Special Counsel. “Cathy believes the Bible.”
Jonna further pointed out that Miller’s beliefs regarding marriage are not “fringe” within the Christian community.
This ruling comes in the same month that Colorado baker Jack Phillips, who refused to bake a cake with blue frosting and a pink inside in celebration of a gender transition, is challenging a ruling that he violated state anti-discrimination laws.
