Federal Discrimination Against Religion?

July 21, 2014

Religious groups will not receive an exemption from an executive order signed this morning by President Barack Obama banning “discrimination” based on sexual orientation or “gender identity” by federal contractors.

The order adds sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of specially protected categories that apply to federal contractors, and it adds gender identity to sexual orientation as a protected category for federal employees. The order could institutionalize federal discrimination against all religious groups and persons affirming natural marriage, traditional sexual ethics and the biological reality of gender.

A June letter sent following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby-Conestoga Wood decision requested that the President include explicit religious freedom protections in any executive order regarding LGBTQ employees of federal contractors.

The letter, which was organized by Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance President Stanley Carlson-Thies, was signed by religious leaders including National Association of Evangelicals President Leith Anderson, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America Executive Director for Public Policy Nathan Diament, National Christian Hispanic Leadership Conference President Samuel Rodriguez, and Obama Spiritual Advisor Pastor Joel C. Hunter.

Officials from World Relief, World Vision, World Concern, Food for the Hungry and Samaritan’s Purse are signatories, along with numerous Christian Colleges and Universities. Several denominational leaders also signed, including officials from the Assemblies of God, the Seventh-Day Adventists, Wesleyan Church, Presbyterian Church in America, Church of the Nazarene, Christian & Missionary Alliance and others.

President Obama’s new executive order compelling all federal contractors to affirm the latest LGBTQ orthodoxy escalates the ongoing culture war against traditional mores and religion.

Kudos to those religious leaders who defend liberty of conscience and dignity for all persons against an increasingly intolerant state and secular culture that seek to eradicate traditional faith and practice from public life.

Religious groups adhering to transcendent truths beyond the present age now have the special role to argue for freedom for ALL persons and to oppose the growing intolerance for any dissent from the reigning zeitgeist. Freedom of speech, conscience and religion are precious gifts essential to justice and democracy.

See also
Question for the New York Times: If Gays Are Offended, Do Christians Have Rights? Question for the New York Times: If Gays Are Offended, Do Christians Have Rights? Question for the New York Times: If Gays Are Offended, Do Christians Have Rights? Question for the New York Times: If Gays Are Offended, Do Christians Have Rights?
The NYT piece applauded the mayor of Atlanta for firing a Christian fire chief because he self-published a Christian book that contained a few comments endorsing traditional Christian views on sexual morality and handed out a few copies to colleagues and co-workers who’d expressed interest.
California Student Speaks Openly About His Christian Faith in Graduation Speech Defying School's Order California Student Speaks Openly About His Christian Faith in Graduation Speech Defying School's Order California Student Speaks Openly About His Christian Faith in Graduation Speech Defying School's Order California Student Speaks Openly About His Christian Faith in Graduation Speech Defying School's Order
California's Brawley Union High School denied a Christian student's speech three times because he wanted to express his Christian faith, but the student decided to assert his freedom of expression by openly speaking about his belief at the graduation ceremony.
Christian day-care worker fired after refusing to read pro-gay books to children Christian day-care worker fired after refusing to read pro-gay books to children Christian day-care worker fired after refusing to read pro-gay books to children Christian day-care worker fired after refusing to read pro-gay books to children
A Christian child-care worker has been added to the growing list of workers who are discovering that their faith is no longer tolerated in polite society, she alleges.
Brendan Eich: First on the New Blacklist Brendan Eich: First on the New Blacklist Brendan Eich: First on the New Blacklist Brendan Eich: First on the New Blacklist
The new blacklist means that while diversity of races, genders and sexual orientations is mandatory, diversity of thought and opinion is restricted. In Silicon Valley, they burn heretics.
Mozilla chief steps down in gay marriage scandal Mozilla chief steps down in gay marriage scandal Mozilla chief steps down in gay marriage scandal Mozilla chief steps down in gay marriage scandal
The head of the group behind the Firefox Mozilla web browser, Brendan Eich, has resigned over the online outrage to his personal donation to an anti-gay marriage campaign a few years ago.
Russia retaliates: New report says EU’s promotion of homosexuality ignores real human rights issues Russia retaliates: New report says EU’s promotion of homosexuality ignores real human rights issues Russia retaliates: New report says EU’s promotion of homosexuality ignores real human rights issues Russia retaliates: New report says EU’s promotion of homosexuality ignores real human rights issues
Far from backing down on its national ban on homosexual propaganda, the Russian government is going on the offensive, saying the European Union's promotion of homosexuality has led it to ignore real human rights violations, including the growth of ultra-nationalist and neo-Nazi groups.
Comments
Here you can leave your comment on the present article, not exceeding 4000 characters. All comments will be read by the editors of OrthoChristian.Com.
Enter through FaceBook
Your name:
Your e-mail:
Enter the digits, seen on picture:

Characters remaining: 4000

Subscribe
to our mailing list

* indicates required
×