A Christian-run bakery is under attack by one of the political subdivisions of the state of Colorado, which has established in recent years a long list of acts of “hostility” to members of the faith.
That “hostility” designation actually came from the U.S. Supreme Court, which rejected the leftist state’s anti-faith agenda in a fight over the messaging on cakes produced by a popular different bakery.
The state has tried to same scheme against a web designer, and now is attacking the speech of counselors in a related fight.
But the newest blaze that has erupted in the state is over a French bakery in Jefferson County, just west of Denver itself.
A report at the Federalist notes that it is a zoning authority that has ordered an end to the bakery that has proven popular in its community.
The report explains the bakery, Et Voila!, opened up in the Lookout Mountain community, overlooking Golden.
It is, the report said, “a must-visit destination for hikers, mountain bikers, and tourists from all over the globe.”
The restaurant is run by three French immigrants, husband-and-wife team of Eric and Rachel Defour and Rachel’s sister, Ruth.
“The Dufours want to share their love for authentic French cuisine with the Lookout Mountain community, creating a welcoming space for locals and visitors. They also count on the bakery’s financial success to support their nonprofit, Serving Alongside Ministry (SAM), which provides counseling services for Christian organizations and leaders globally,” the Federalist explained.
They sold their home and spent almost a year changing a storage building into a clean and inviting space.
Their work consumes their time, as the bakery is open six days a week, with chores beginning at 1 a.m., long before the opening at 7 a.m.
They knew they had to live nearby, as Colorado winters can be intimidating, with snowfall measured in feet, so they arranged temporary living facilities adjacent to the restaurant, two trailers that were customized to match the bakery’s designs and colors.
Enter the Jefferson County zoning inspectors, who are insisting that the bakery site is not available for any residential use – ever.
And county officials there have refused to accommodate the community’s needs for a restaurant with a variance, despite evidence that enforcing their ruling would cause the business to close.
The Dufours now are appealing for help on Change.org, which has gathered thousands of signatures praising the bakery and challenging the zoning.
The report also noted CNBC has rated Colorado at “D+” for the cost of doing business, and a “C-” for business friendliness, and as the county is facing a $30 million budget shortfall, its intention appears to be “destroy a thriving business and a cherished community hub simply to enforce its zoning ordinance.”
Colorado, the state, already has lost at the Supreme Court its war against another bakery over the owner’s refusal to spout state-approved LGBT messaging in violation of his own faith. Same results, from the same Supreme Court, in the state’s war against a web designer. Still pending is the state’s demand that counselors say only state-approved words in counseling clients.
