Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is moving quickly during the lame duck session to ram through the deceptively-named “Respect for Marriage Act.” The Senate voted today on this extreme piece of legislation. The party in power first introduced this bill several months ago and strong-armed it through the U.S. House of Representatives.

The so-called “Respect for Marriage Act” is a bill that radically expands and redefines not only what marriage means, but also who can be sued for disagreeing with the “new meaning” of marriage.

As our legal experts have made clear, this bill is a threat to religious liberty. It’s an attack on millions of religious Americans who simply want to live their lives consistent with their deeply held beliefs. It also poses a threat to states that want to safeguard people of faith through conscience protections.

Several senators introduced an amendment they claim will help protect religious freedom. Don’t be fooled, however. The language of this amendment is not promising and does not adequately address the bill’s significant religious freedom issues. It offers only limited and narrow protections.

The proposed changes apply in relation to the “solemnization or celebration of a marriage.” This, however, really only extends protection to clergy and churches. Religious schools, universities, faith-based adoption agencies and nonprofit organizations—any entity other than a house of worship—could still be targeted. Business owners, employers and private citizens who want to work and live consistent with their religious beliefs are also left unprotected.

Make no mistake. Even though it has been amended, this bill would wreak havoc on religious communities and people of faith. It could be weaponized, for example, by:

• The IRS to strip religious schools and universities of their nonprofit status.
  
  
• Radical activist groups to target as many Christian nonprofit organizations as possible.
  
  
• The Biden administration to stop any state from challenging, or even questioning, the woke ideology on as same-sex marriage and the entire LGBTQ+ agenda.

First Liberty and a national coalition of more than 80 groups already sent a letter warning Senate leaders about the consequences if this bill were signed into law. More than 2,000 churches and ministries also sent a letter to the Senate specifically calling attention to the effects of the bill on their ability to serve their communities in accordance with their religious beliefs.

Now, we need YOUR continued support. More Americans need to know how this bill could cause serious harm to their rights. Whether it’s your family, coworkers or neighbors, please share this information with them.

Time is of the essence. Please help spread the word to as many people as possible that this bill is a brazen attack on religious liberty.