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Biden HHS pick says religious liberty doesn't include churches
Press California ^ | 12/8/20 | Greg Burt/CFC

Posted on 12/08/2020 10:19:06 AM PST by TedMartin

President-Elect Joe Biden’s pick for secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, concerns religious conservatives fighting to protect their First Amendment free speech and religious liberty rights.

They are wary of Becerra because he defended the anti-free speech California law (AB 775), struck down by the Supreme Court, that forced pro-life care centers to promote state-sponsored abortions.

They are also alarmed over comments he made before the state Assembly three years ago when he said religious liberty is only for “individuals” not “institutions.”

California Family Council President Jonathan Keller had this to say about the nomination. “On November 7, Joe Biden claimed victory in the presidential race, saying ‘we must stop treating our opponents as our enemy.’ But his nomination of Becerra raises grave concerns,” Keller said.

Rebuked by Supreme Court

“The Secretary of HHS is one of the most important positions in the federal government. But Mr. Becerra is a radical ideologue who rejects First Amendment protections for religious organizations, even earning a rebuke from the U.S. Supreme Court. It’s hard to see how nominating such an activist is consistent with Mr. Biden’s pledge to be a president for all Americans.”

Becerra made his views on religious liberty known in response to questions from Assemblyman James Gallagher during his confirmation hearing for California Attorney General on January 10, 2017.

Gallagher asked Becerra what he thought about AB 775 and another proposed bill, SB 1146, which would have forced religious universities to change their housing policies and moral behavior codes to avoid punishment.

Called churches constitutional ‘bootstrappers’

“On religious protections, the protection for religion is for the individual,” Becerra explained. “I think it is important to distinguish between protections that you are affording to the individual to exercise his or her religion freely, versus protections you are giving to some institution or entity who is essentially bootstrapping the first amendment protections on behalf of somebody else.”

Gallagher took great exception to Becerra’s statement saying it reflected a “fundamental misunderstanding of the freedom of religion and freedom of association.” Gallagher expressed his objections on the floor of the State Assembly when he explained why he opposed Becerra’s nomination as California’s next Attorney General.

“The freedom of religion and the First Amendment applies just as much to the mosque as it does to the Muslim; it applies just as much to the gurdwara as it does to the Sikh; it applies just as much to the church as it does to the Christian,” Gallagher said. “It applies just as much to religious non-profits, universities, and places of education. Their religious rights need to be protected just as much.” Watch the full Gallagher/Becerra exchange here.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: abortion; aclumia; atheismandstate; becerra; biden; bidenvoters; california; church; churchandstate; hhs; homofascism; law
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1 posted on 12/08/2020 10:19:06 AM PST by TedMartin
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To: TedMartin
free expression, thereof

I believe those words are in the First Amendment, regarding religion.

2 posted on 12/08/2020 10:21:41 AM PST by LibertarianLiz
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To: TedMartin

He’s a radical pro-abort too, and Biden’s choice of him to lead “Health and Human Services” is positively Orwellian, like so much else in the Democrats’ agenda.


3 posted on 12/08/2020 10:23:19 AM PST by Deo volente ("When we see the image of a baby in the womb, we glimpse the majesty of God's creation." Pres. Trump)
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To: TedMartin

So biden doesn’t plan to allow Christians to say that gay is wrong and that islamic terrorism is evil.


4 posted on 12/08/2020 10:25:10 AM PST by I want the USA back (I fear my government much much more than a virus from china.)
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To: Deo volente

If we are denied a Trump second term, we are in deep, deep trouble with Biden. The demonic stench will be unleashed like never before.


5 posted on 12/08/2020 10:25:36 AM PST by hsmomx3
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To: TedMartin

What are institutions, if they aren’t groups of individuals acting in concert for a common cause or reason?

If corporations can be protected by the 1st Amendment on this theory to give campaign contributions, then churches can and should be similarly protected by the First Amendment.

But, as usual, this statement says a lot more about the speaker than it does about the substance of the matter. This lowlife is nothing more than a petty tyrant wannabee.


6 posted on 12/08/2020 10:27:30 AM PST by Ancesthntr ("The right to buy weapons is the right to be free." A. E. van Vogt, “The Weapon Shops of Isher”)
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To: TedMartin

Everything you know, everything you fear about the left is coming. It’s time. They went all out to steal an election before our eyes. They are bold enough to tell us everything we see is “debunked”.

The left knows they are at a tipping point. If they push, and push hard, they can create a one party rule in this country. Unlike Republicans, when Democrats have an edge, no matter how slight, they use it to it’s fullest.

By the time Harris is done with America, it will be full on socialist with social justice warriors in power everywhere, or it will be a broken pile of ashes. And the left is ok with either outcome.


7 posted on 12/08/2020 10:31:41 AM PST by brownsfan (Schools. If we don't fix the schools, nothing else matters.)
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To: TedMartin

This is a very dangerous person....................


8 posted on 12/08/2020 10:33:59 AM PST by Red Badger ( “The goal of socialism is communism.”... Vladimir Lenin)
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To: LibertarianLiz

“free expression, thereof / I believe those words are in the First Amendment, regarding religion.”

Actually, the Constitution is stronger. It says “free EXERCISE”. Not just that you can think it or say it, but you can USE your religious beliefs in your actions.

‘no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”


9 posted on 12/08/2020 10:35:39 AM PST by Mr Rogers
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To: Red Badger

You got that right!


10 posted on 12/08/2020 10:37:23 AM PST by Slyfox (Not my circus, not my monkeys )
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To: brownsfan

Agreed.


11 posted on 12/08/2020 10:38:07 AM PST by Irenic
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To: TedMartin

To this nut, the PEOPLE in the 1A refers to individuals only...the PEOPLE in the 2A refers to a group only.


12 posted on 12/08/2020 10:38:16 AM PST by Sgt_Schultze (When your business model depends on slave labor, you're always going to need more slaves)
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To: TedMartin

Bill of Rights affirms our rights.

Becerra has a fundamental misunderstanding of the foundations and principles of construction.

Particularly, original intent and enumeration of powers that limit government.


13 posted on 12/08/2020 10:45:36 AM PST by linMcHlp
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To: TedMartin

You’ll hear the left saying that they favor “freedom of worship” but not so much “freedom of religion.” What that means is they will “allow” churches to have whatever form of worship service they want but the church must not encroach on anything that has social implications. So churches could be banned from preaching against abortion or be forced to have gay “wedding” ceremonies, and Christian-run hospitals would be required to perform abortions.


14 posted on 12/08/2020 10:56:06 AM PST by Wilhelm Tell (True or False? This is not a tag line.)
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To: TedMartin

Without a hint of cognitive dissonance...


15 posted on 12/08/2020 11:03:55 AM PST by null and void (My President is a Person Of Color, Orange is a Color...)
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To: TedMartin

This is a common liberal position that the free exercise clause merely grants a freedom to believe as one wishes. This is ludicrous on two fronts. “Exercise” is an affirmative action which, by definition, entails conduct. Second, we don’t need an amendment to protect a “freedom to believe”, because no government has the ability to restrict what one believes in their mind.


16 posted on 12/08/2020 11:05:06 AM PST by circlecity
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To: TedMartin

Biden’s handlers are bigger bone heads than he is?


17 posted on 12/08/2020 11:08:38 AM PST by Leep (Save America. Lock down Joe Biden!)
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To: Leep
Biden’s handlers are bigger bone heads than he is?

Nope, just even more evil.

18 posted on 12/08/2020 11:14:23 AM PST by null and void (My President is a Person Of Color, Orange is a Color...)
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To: TedMartin

I hope he gets the job
My fellow daily mass going Catholics had a few biden signs
You get what you vote for


19 posted on 12/08/2020 11:16:42 AM PST by italianquaker
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To: TedMartin

We’re lucky the Senate Republicans would never vote to confirm such a person. /sarc


20 posted on 12/08/2020 11:22:30 AM PST by ameribbean expat (Attention! All persons having the corona virus...please report to the nearest IRS office. Thank you.)
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