Religious Liberties at Risk
October 25, 2007 by Kevin Thompson
From the AACS Legislative Office:
ACTION ALERT
RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES AT RISK
The U.S. House of Representatives will be voting soon on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). This bill prohibits discrimination of employees on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation.
However, in an effort to end discrimination, this bill actually contains language which endangers the freedoms granted all Americans in the U.S. Constitution and specifically threatens the freedom of religious organizations and religious peoples of all faiths.
Consider the following:
ENDA would add sexual orientation to the list of protected classes listed in Title VII of The Civil Rights Act of 1964. Historically, the protected classes have been limited to peoples who have experienced pervasive discrimination resulting in economic and political disenfranchisement and who have an immutable characteristic (i.e. race, age, gender).
ENDA would expand civil rights protections to people who believe they have been discriminated against because of a perception of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
ENDA would jeopardize the religious freedoms of private employers by refusing to allow them to make choices regarding their own employees based on deeply-held religious beliefs.
ENDA would effectively undermine the entire concept of gender by forcing employers to ignore biology, physiology and widely held moral beliefs in relationship to an employee’s personal perception of gender.
ENDA would invite the federal government to supervise the employment practices of some Christian schools and force them to compromise the central tenets of their faith.
The American Association of Christian Schools has sent a letter to Members of Congress regarding our concerns on this bill. However, it is vital that the Representatives also hear from their constituents.
ACTION: Contact your Congressman and urge him/her to OPPOSE ENDA
Contact information can be obtained at www.house.gov.
