Many House Democrats this week made a procedural move that, if successful, would threaten religious liberty. Led by Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), 190 Members of Congress signed a petition to advance the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to the House Floor for a vote. Moreover, seemingly in the same spirit as President Obama’s related Executive Order this summer, these House Democrats are calling for the disintegration of already weak provisions for religious organizations that were included in the version of ENDA approved by the Senate last autumn. To the contrary, Rep. Polis’ resolution would, in fact, brazenly amend the bill to read, “Such organizations are not exempt from the requirements of this Act…”
Dr. Jerry A. Johnson, President & CEO of NRB, responded, “I am alarmed by this display of intolerance for constitutional religious liberty rights in the public square.”
ENDA (S.815/H.R.1755) would create new federal employment rights for individuals based on their “sexual orientation” or “gender identity.” NRB has long warned of this bill’s dangers, testifying numerous times before Senate and House committees.
“ENDA promises confusion for employers desiring to honor the tenets of their faith in the workplace,” stated Dr. Johnson this week. “I urge Members of the House of Representatives to stand firm against pressure from lobby groups attempting to ram this perilously flawed legislation into law.”
By Aaron Mercer, Vice President of Government Relations
Published: September 19, 2014
