Was there bias by the prosecution in Oregon’s Sweet Cakes by Melissa case?

The Daily Signal is reporting that the government agency responsible for enforcing Oregon’s anti-discrimination law appeared to be working closely with a powerful gay rights advocacy group in its case against the baker who refused to bake a cake for a lesbian wedding celebration.

“Communication between the agency, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, and the LGBT organization, Basic Rights Oregon, raise questions about potential bias in the state’s decision to charge the [bakery owners] with discrimination for refusing to make a cake for a same-sex wedding,” the Daily Signal reported Monday.

Kelsey Harkness

In April the agency recommended the bakery owners, Aaron and Melissa Klein, be fined $135,000.

This week on Faith On Trial, the author of the report, Kelsey Harkness, Daily Signal’s news producer, will discuss this matter with Deacon Mike Manno and his co-host Gina Noll.

According to the Daily Signal story, unearthed emails appear to challenge the Bureau of Labor’s contention that the case was fairly administered and decided.

This week we'll also have our monthly visit from our media critic, former Des Moines Register reporter Todd Erzen.

Faith On Trial is heard every Tuesday at 9 a.m. (CDT) and rebroadcast at 9 p.m. on Iowa Catholic Radio 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streamed on IowaCatholicRadio.com.

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