Senate Republicans Should Defend Religious Liberty

Senate Republicans are on the verge of selling out people of faith.

While I understand the political merits of passing a law enshrining same-sex and interracial marriage into the law, the former is fraught with implications for people of faith who sincerely believe God himself ordained the institution between a man and woman, not people of the same sex.

Democrats, in offering their legislation, have, like Adam and Eve, offered fig leaves in response to concerns about religious discrimination. The wording of the legislation is far more nebulous than it should be and could risk the tax exempt status of religious institutions and see religious people persecuted for trying to uphold their multi-thousand year old faith based beliefs.

Sadly, the Mormon Church has sold out on the issue and provided Democrats cover to pursue weak religious protections. Progressive religious institutions have joined the Mormons in backing the existing Democrat text.

Thankfully, Senator Mike Lee from Utah, defying the elders in his church, has offered clear language to protect peoples and institutions of faith who do not want to go along with the secular redefinition of marriage.

Democrats and some Republicans claim the legislation already provides religious liberty protections. They should not be opposed to Senator Lee's amendment, which clarifies the matter of religious liberty in the legislation.

Unfortunately, Senate Republicans have agreed to a sixty-vote threshold on Lee's amendment, most likely dooming it. However, there is also a sixty-vote threshold to pass the final legislation.

If the Senate Democrats will not add Senator Lee's clear amendment for religious liberty protections, the Senate Republicans should not support the legislation. It is that simple.

Unfortunately, I do not think we will see enough Senate Republicans stand up for people of orthodox Christian faith. It is not just the Democrats who are leaving Christendom behind.