The following comes from a December 5 Catholic News Agency article by Matt Hadro:
Senate Republicans agreed to remove a religious liberty amendment from a defense bill earlier this week, after a fierce campaign was waged against it by secular groups.
“The leadership of the 115th Congress must double down against, not concede to, ridiculous, fact-free accusations meant to derail legitimate lawmaking,” Kristina Arriaga, executive director of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, stated in response to the news that the Russell Amendment was pulled from the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.
Back in 2014, President Obama signed an anti-discrimination executive order that prohibited any federal contractor from making employment decisions based on someone’s sexual orientation. There were no religious exemptions.
Thus, any religious group or charity contracting with the government might have to recognize same-sex marriages, for example.
In response, the Russell Amendment, named for the sponsor Rep. Steve Russell (R-Okla.) established protections for religious groups against this order.
However, Senate Democrats threatened to hold up the $618.7 defense authorizations bill unless the amendment was removed. Secular advocacy groups like the American Civil Liberties Union also pushed for its demise.
The ACLU led a social media campaign against the amendment, #RejectRussell. The group also delivered over 340,000 petitions to Congress asking that the amendment be removed from the bill.
Rep. Russell told WORLD magazine that he was still “confident we will see this brought to a complete resolution in the near term,” and that he had seen “positive signs” on the matter from the incoming administration of President-elect Trump.
The Republicans are little better than the Democrats, to be truthful. In fact, Republican cowardice helped elect Donald Trump and it is hoped that he tames Congress to his will, or helps get people elected to Congress who have moral courage. This give-up was unnecessary, but the Republicans are so craven to the Harry Reid Democrats that they refuse to fight, to hold strong to principle.
It is hoped that the new Congress will have some true Men and Women with fortitude and strength. Let the Democrats threaten, then give the mike to Trump, who will call it like it is (unlikde the cowards on the Hill)..
The Senate Republicans showed lack of moral courage and spine by dropping the religious freedom amendment. If people of faith are not protected America will in fact become a totalitarian tyranny. Make no mistake about this because the left have been obliterating freedom of religious expression for quite some time now to promote an evil and diabolical agenda. Let us hope and pray that President Elect Donald Trump has the courage to as he says in his campaign slogan, make a America great again. For America to be truly great again freedom of religious expression must be protected and be the cornerstone of the Trump administration. Do not let the Yahoos in the ACLU or the left destroy fundamental constitutional freedoms that have been a…
If Republicans had fought to protect people trying to live their lives according to God’s laws, perhaps God would have helped them. Be not afraid!
Continued from above post…. that have been a hallmark of America since its founding in 1776. If freedom of religious expression is not protected it won’t be too long before physical persecution of those proclaiming and standing by the word of God takes place. Pray America Pray, Mother Mary on this the Feast of the Immaculate Conception pray for America.
Same stupid republicans who are destroying this country
People should take note and keep track of actions such as this.
If they do, over time they will realize that Republicans, in actual practice, are NOT particularly pro-life, pro-family or pro-Christian. Especially when the chips are down.
Well, Democrats got Homosexual Marriage and to use Lady’s rooms. All we got was The Presidency, the Senate, the House, State Legislatures, 33 Governors and the repeal of Obamacare. God willing we will also get the repeal of the Lyndon Johnson amendment. So go ahead Commie compatriots, enjoy your small victory.