Posted on 12/06/2016 5:35:09 PM PST by marshmallow
Washington D.C., Dec 5, 2016 / 03:46 pm (CNA).- Senate Republicans agreed to remove a religious liberty amendment from a defense bill earlier this week, after a fierce campaign was waged against it by secular groups.
“The leadership of the 115th Congress must double down against, not concede to, ridiculous, fact-free accusations meant to derail legitimate lawmaking,” Kristina Arriaga, executive director of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, stated in response to the news that the Russell Amendment was pulled from the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.
Back in 2014, President Obama signed an anti-discrimination executive order that prohibited any federal contractor from making employment decisions based on someone’s sexual orientation. There were no religious exemptions.
Thus, any religious group or charity contracting with the government might have to recognize same-sex marriages, for example.
In response, the Russell Amendment, named for the sponsor Rep. Steve Russell (R-Okla.) established protections for religious groups against this order.
For instance, under the proposed amendment the government would not be able to cancel a contract with a Christian group just because they only hired persons who lived in accordance with their church’s teaching.
However, Senate Democrats threatened to hold up the $618.7 defense authorizations bill unless the amendment was removed. Secular advocacy groups like the American Civil Liberties Union also pushed for its demise.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicnewsagency.com ...
“Back in 2014, President Obama signed an anti-discrimination executive order..”
That should be an easy fix.
send it to trump.
We are coming to Washington to look your asses up— VERY SOON.
Along with Demonicrats, Senate RINOcrats deserve the name Traitorcrats. They are the scum of the earth and they will likely try to stop the reforms pushed by President Trump.
Theses Traitorcrats need to be identified and marked for defeat at their next election.
Since the commie/nazi pigs in DC won’t recognize 1st amendment religious liberties, I see no reason to recognize the right of the DC government pigs to exist.
What should we expect? They are, after all, Republicans.
i don’t think you understand what is at stake. They will tax the offering plate and tax the value of the church property at corporate tax levels. the power to tax is the power to destroy.
I do understand what is at stake.
I also understand that as long as Churches seek tax exempt status they are slaves to government.
Let them tax the offering plate! Let them tax it all! Render to Ceasar what is his.
Gods blessings will overcome the tax. To believe less, is to be an unbeliever.
You said,”... as long as Churches seek tax exempt status...”
Our church has never sought any such status. We are non-taxable under the law and under the principles of our founders. Please consider two other thoughts: When you put in your tithe, it has already been taxed. This taxes it again, because churches are completely voluntary associations. Also, the church is being put under the thumb of government by taxation. The founders felt that they could not tax the work of God, but modern efforts to tax the church are driven by pagans.
Thanks for your reply and for your participation in the discussion!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.