U.S. Senate Passes Bill Attacking Religious Liberty

The deceptively named “Employment Non-Discrimination Act” (ENDA) has passed the U.S. Senate and moved to the House of Representatives. If it becomes law, it could result in massive religious discrimination in the workplace.

ENDA would affect hiring and firing laws, and workplace codes of conduct, that would discriminate against those who believe that homosexual and transgender behavior is wrong based on religious grounds.

There are some exemptions for religion, but not enough. Religious businesses, including many religious radio stations, bookstores, schools, and other businesses and their employees would be in jeopardy. As would many businesses owned by people of faith. In addition, employees with traditional religious convictions about sexuality could be a greater risk than today.

New Wave of Discrimination

“ENDA is another manifestation of a new wave of religious discrimination,” says Liberty Institute’s President and CEO Kelly Shackelford. “In this wave, powerful institutions try to force religious citizens—in this case, employers and employees—to agree with values that contradict their religious beliefs. It’s outrageous. Effectively, they are forced to deny their faith.”<p> For example, legal analysts have said ENDA could force Christian employers to:

– Maintain a workplace environment that affirms sexual behavior the employer and other employees consider wrong,

– Discipline employees who don’t affirm such behavior in mandated diversity training and other situations,

– Even restrict religious expression of employees that might offend co-workers.

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