Could Two New Laws Suffocate the Catholic Church in DC?

Catholic News Agency ^ | 2/7/15 | Matt Hadro

[marshmallow]

Washington D.C., Feb 7, 2015 / 05:09 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The U.S. bishops and several other Catholic and pro-life groups are asking Congress to nullify two new Washington, D.C. laws that they say could choke their ability to operate according to their religious beliefs.

The legislation amounts to “unprecedented assaults upon our organizations,” the coalition of groups stated in a letter to all members of Congress. “Both laws violate the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of association protected by the First Amendment and other federal law.”

After a bill is signed into law by the D.C. mayor, Congress reviews the law and can choose to overturn it. The president must honor the disapproval for the bill to be nullified. If no such approval occurs, the bill officially becomes law.

The signatories asked Congress to overturn the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act of 2014 and the Human Rights Amendment Act of 2014. Both unanimously passed the city council and were recently signed into law by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.

If not nullified, the laws would affect employers including religious charitable, medical and educational institutions and pro-life groups.

The Human Rights Amendment Act overturned a decades-old exemption for religious schools and now compels them to recognize groups or persons that directly contradict their mission.

Catholic University’s general counsel Lawrence Morris explained to CNA that the bill “could force us into decisions regarding personnel or student life that would contradict such [Catholic Church] teaching.” For example, the university could have to officially recognize student groups that are fundamentally opposed to the teachings of the Catholic Church on matters of homosexual behavior.

The Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act prohibits employers from hiring or firing employees based on their “reproductive health” decisions, such as abortion, sterilization, artificial contraception or in vitro fertilization.

Critics have....

[Don Corleone]

And the Beat (up on Christians) goes on!

[AnalogReigns]

“The president must honor the disapproval for the bill to be nullified. “

Fat chance of that happening.

What’s happened to all the liberal defenses of free-speech?

[Ann Archy]

Democrats are the EVIL DEATH PARTY.

[tanknetter]

And the Beat (up on Christians) goes on!

For years the Roman Catholic Church, as well as many other churches, have climbed into bed with Leftists on all sorts of issues, particularly those on social justice matters.

By doing so these churches have been complicit in helping Leftists gain, retain and consolidate power.

Power that is now being turned back against them.

So I'm not too upset about the Roman Catholic Church, or any other church, finding that IT is now in the crosshairs of its own allies.

[logic101.net]

What’s happened to all the liberal defenses of free-speech?

Free speech applies only to them, didn’t you see the memo?

[arthurus]

If these laws become effective perhaps there will be new laws in the next year that require the Catholic Church to hire LGBT priests and nuns in exact ratios to some official wildly inflated ration of LGBT in the population. Required sane sex married clergy could be required in due course and with the next round of Court Decisions, polygamous and pedophilic clergy and employees. Both of these “alternative lifestyles” will be forced on the nation soon enough and DC will run it out to absurdity, probably even before California does..

[Arthur McGowan]

Cardinal Donna Wuerl ALREADY violates the Church’s teaching constantly. He punishes any priest who fails to give Communions to lesbians, gay couples, and pro-aborts, despite the fact that giving them Communion is always a MORTAL SIN.

http://tinyurl.com/canon915

[Salvation]

**D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. **

This guy needs to be un-elected.

[NRx]

Fortunately I think these laws are likely to struck down, and quickly, by the Federal Courts. The Appeals court with jurisdiction over DC is the same one that nullified their idiotic gun laws.

[Verginius Rufus]

He’s a she.

[Campion]

Do you think your self-righteousness is going to help you when they come after *your* rights?

[onedoug]

Both the House and Senate are in Republican hands. Though it evidently turns out they’re not very conservative either.

[NYer]

“The law plainly violates the First Amendment, the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA), and possibly other federal laws and clearly contradicts the Supreme Court’s recent, unanimous ruling in Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Church and School v. EEOC,” they stated.

Ping!

[GeronL]

You were not paying attention. Free speech is for those who agree with the left. Tolerance is demanded of their opponents, they never promised they would be tolerant of us.

[Salvation]

Oops

[Heart-Rest]

 
Maybe if they boot that Mayor Bowser out, they can play this song to her:

"Get A Job" - Sha Na Na (Featuring Bowser)

(Here's Bowser by himself, sounding just like Mayor Bowser)
Bowser Loop (Sha Na Na)