News broke yesterday that an amendment designed to protect religious freedom in the deceptively titled “Respect for Marriage Act” currently pending a vote in the House of Representatives was blocked by House Democrats.
This is one more example why Christians should vote their convictions. Elections have consequences.
Apparently, there’s also discussions about the possibility of folding the legislation into the defense authorization bill in order to garner more votes.
Nevertheless, your voice matters. Please consider calling or contacting your House Representative and ask them to Vote “NO” on HR 8404, the “Respect for Marriage Act.”
You can either call their House offices directly through the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121, or you can use the House website directory found here.
Here is some additional information put out by Focus on the Family’s Daily Citizen about the troubling legislation:
HR 8404 is extreme and poses a substantial threat to religious freedom nationwide.
The bill:
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Further embeds a false definition of marriage into American law.
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Opens the door to federal recognition of polygamous relationships.
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Jeopardizes the tax-exempt status of nonprofits that affirm that marriage is the union of one man and one woman.
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Endangers faith-based social service organizations by threatening litigation and liability risk if they follow their views on marriage when working with the government.
The U.S. House of Representatives previously passed the bill on July 19, 2022, with the support of all 220 Democrat members along with 47 Republicans. The U.S. Senate subsequently passed a similar version of the bill in a vote of 61-36 on November 29, with ostensible religious liberty protections — though those apparent protections remain hallow and inadequate.
Speaking of the Senate version of HR 8404, Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, recently called the bill a “moral disaster.” He added:
The new amended Senate bill — the “commonsense” bill that “protects Americans’ religious liberties” — actually does no such thing.
What is left wide open is the threat to ministries such as Christian orphanages and children’s care as well as adoption ministries and foster care. This amended language resolves nothing, but is offered as an assurance that religious freedom is protected.
Again — please — TAKE ACTION now to help save marriage and religious freedom from the effects of this dangerous bill. Please call or contact your House Representative and ask them to Vote “NO” on HR 8404, the “Respect for Marriage Act.”
You can either call their House offices directly through the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121, or you can use the House website directory found here. |