Posted on 07/18/2015 8:28:35 AM PDT by cotton1706
Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) doesn’t really understand why congressional Republicans are again focusing their limited time on lightning-rod social issues, but if they’re going to force the debate, he’s hoping to soften any blowback.
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage, Republicans — 124 of them in the House and 34 in the Senate — want legislation passed ensuring the federal government cannot discriminate against anyone who actively opposes same-sex marriage, citing “a religious or moral conviction.” Specifically, they support a measure saying those entities cannot have their tax-exempt status revoked.
There is broad agreement, even reportedly among marriage equality advocates, such as Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), who is openly gay, that it would be fine to clarify in legislation that places of worship don’t have to perform same-sex weddings.
But the legislation being pushed by some congressional Republicans — dubbed the First Amendment Defense Act — is much broader than that, resembling the statute that sparked controversy in Indiana.
If the bill comes to the floor, Dent has prepared an amendment to limit the language and tack on enhanced nondiscrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Dent will do all he can to turn a Protect Religious Liberty act into a Protect LGBT act.
a brave new world for the GOP. they get to make a whole set new laws limiting and redefining our religious freedom all on the leftist’s terms.
the law is already on the books. it’s called the 1st amendment.
Charlie Dent.....shocker....NOT. He represents the district I grew up in......It has a HUGE Hispanic population now and soon will probably only elect Democrats. I’d say that Charlie will be the last Republican to be elected in the Lehigh Valley.....sadly. Although Charlie many times acts like a Democrat.
So what's the controversy? In sounds like they have bi-partisan support from one of the few honest liberals in congress.
There is no better time to push it through and force the real haters to go on record in opposing it.
“GOP moderates” — another name for “Democratic outreach.”
They propose a ghastly horse trade, and no provision may be better than one that gives some prickly maybes to Christians while giving cushy assurance to a wicked movement.
IMO, they should rescind ALL tax-exemptions, from each and EVERY entity. Are we all not equal under the Law??
The Church can get back to its core principles, and the govt would lose its ability to social engineer through fear and $$.
Then, and ONLY then, we might start on the path back to a Free and prosperous Republic.
he’s hoping to soften any blowback.
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