Pro-abortion groups are lobbying for a California law that Catholic leaders warn would open employers like Catholic schools to lawsuits for asking teachers to follow their codes of conduct.
“The bill unmistakably targets religious organization employers in the state, and goes further, inviting expensive litigation that could take years to sort out,” the California Catholic Conference said July 14, adding that it “sets a dangerous precedent for religious employers.”
The Catholic conference strongly opposes the bill, sponsored by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzales Fletcher (D-San Diego).
Assembly Bill 569 would prohibit employers from requiring their employees to sign a waiver or other document that “purports to deny any employee the right to make his or her own reproductive health care decisions,” its summary says.
It would also bar an employer from taking any adverse action against an employee based on the employee’s or employee dependent’s use of any drug, device or medical service related to “reproductive health” – which would include abortion, contraception and sterilization.
If an employer has an employee handbook, the bill would require the handbook to notify employees of these legal rights.
“On the surface, the bill claims to seek legal protections from discrimination or retaliation for the ‘reproductive decisions’ of employees,” the California Catholic Conference asserts. “However, the bill does not allow employers to enforce codes of conduct, even those negotiated with employees as part of union contracts. Those ‘codes of conduct’ – which are actually just standards and expectations set by an employer for the individuals it employs – bind religious employers and their employees in pursuit of a good society.”
To help rally opposition to the California bill, the Catholic conference has prepared an action alert on its website, https://www.cacatholic.org.
Full story at Catholic News Agency.
Well, the Supreme Court (U.S., not the dopes in Sacramento), need to address religious liberty and the meaning of the First Amendment in this regard. Of course, the California Catholic bishops, mostly craven cowards, will side with the State.
Of course this is the course Cal will take, with the U.S. shortly behind (if Dems take over). Totalitarian governments always stifle dissent from moral sources, particularly the religious. Jailings, and murder, follow. Nazis/Commies/Others all had many laws, many courts, many hearings. We are likely going there.
What are the bishops afraid of? They already permit gay-married musicians and catechists to work in their parishes and schools. Transgender teachers have not been fired. A big number of Democrat, abortion-supporting employees can be found in chancery offices. In sum, CA Catholic institutions are already thoroughly phony. I hope the bill becomes law so that the useless CA Catholic Conference loses another advocacy effort. When will the bishops stop wasting money on the conference? CA is a totalitarian leftist state that is going to full-on persecute Christians and the Church. Get used to it or move out of the state.
Why do people write and pass such terribly immoral laws? Because our Catholic and Protestant clergy in America, have not done their jobs since the filthy, lawless 1960s!! They have failed to teach Americans basic Christian truths, and have failed in Christian formation of their parishioners! I bet the mother and grandmother of Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzales Fletcher, would just DIE to see her ignorance, and horrific, sinful immorality! Not so long ago (in the era of Gov. Jerry Brown’s father, Gov.”Pat” Brown) — no Californian would have supported this woman— because all Americans once were taught the Bible and Christ’s teachings, in churches everywhere!
What America needs– is not just good laws, based on Christian teachings— but a people who are re-Christianized, who have been taught the Bible and Christianity really well, in their churches, and who will want very much to lead a good life, based on Christian teachings– and make a good country, shining bright with Christian virtue, for the glory of God!
In addition to taking action with your Legislators, please also contact your local bishop and ask him why this bill was NOT on the agenda for Catholic Advocacy Day this past April. It seems to be a really big deal and top priority for the bishops’ conference to stop…so why wasn’t it even on the list of bills that Catholic lay faithful were told to address with their Legislators when they had a chance to meet with them in person?! For context, here is the list of legislation that was on the agenda for 2017 Catholic Advocacy Day in California:
https://www.cacatholic.org/take-action/catholic-advocacy-day
Pander or Perish = the ‘gospel’ of the Gaystapo – and the CA Legislature is badly bent on forcing everyone to Drink the Kool-Aid (like Harvey Milk’s good friend and political ally Jim Jones served up to his flock) and Return the Stiff Arm Salute – or its off to New Dachau (a suburb of Sodom by the Sea)