On Thursday, December 9, NRB filed a public comment opposing an Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) proposal to rescind a 2020 rule regarding the Equal Opportunity Clause’s religious exemption.
By deleting key definitions, examples, and instructions for implementation from the rule, the “Proposal to Rescind Implementing Legal Requirements Regarding the Equal Opportunity Clause’s Religious Exemption” (86 Fed. Reg. 62115) would burden and limit the ability of religious organizations to obtain federal contracts while conducting business and hiring staff in accordance with Christian values and biblical teachings.
“The range of Christian groups that we represent gives us a valuable perspective on this issue,” NRB’s comment reads. “The Proposal seeks to limit religious protections for employment decisions by religious organizations, including the types of organizations we represent, that are or wish to be federal contractors, chiefly by burdening their freedoms to make faith-based employment decisions.”
NRB is proud to represent the interests of Christian broadcasters, ministries, Christian schools, and faith-based humanitarian and charitable organizations throughout the nation. Many of these organizations provide specialized and valuable charitable services and should not be excluded from the opportunity to participate in federal contracting due to sincere Christian beliefs. Even if the number of Christian organizations who participate in federal contracts are relatively few, NRB takes very seriously that their rightful religious protections should not be degraded by new rules, regulations, and rescissions without opposition.
NRB’s essential mission is to maintain access for Christian communicators. We will continue to monitor and respond to any threats to the religious exemptions that enable faith-based organizations to serve the public and fulfill their mission in accordance with biblical values.
Read the full comment here.
