Faced with the potential shutdown of government and default on the U.S.’s bills, a group of House Republicans are focusing on what really matters: protecting groups that don’t want to recognize marriage equality. Rep. Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho) has drafted the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act Thursday, which he says “ensures that any religious institution, organization or church that believes that marriage should continue to remain between one man and one woman will not be discriminated against by the federal government.”
Labrador says he’s concerned that the rights of groups like Catholic Charities may be at risk because the federal government will want them to comply with laws treating same-sex married couples the same as any other. “I believe the Constitution protects these institutions,” Labrador told The Hill, “but I just want to make sure that it’s in the law, that it’s 100 percent sure, that people have no question about it.”
Of course, people have no question about it now. Conservative and religious groups may not like the law, but it is, you know, the law. Labrador is trying to create an above-the-law category for groups that object to marriage equality and, more generally, the 21st century.
Congress being what it is, however, it’s no surprise that Labrador has 60 co-sponsors for his “protect the homophobes” bill. Among them are two Democrats, Reps. Mike McIntyre (N.C.) and Daniel Lipinski (Ill.), proving that Republicans don’t have a complete lock on stupidity.
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Michael David Barber
Fine. Then Catholic Charities shouldn’t get a penny in anyone’s tax money either. You want to discriminate, you don’t get tax money. PERIOD.
Palmer Scott
But that’s the whole point!
They want the money AND to discriminate.
Elloreigh
@Michael David Barber: Exactly. Using government to pick my pocket while discriminating against me is adding insult to injury.
erasure25
Law is necessary. The US constitution already protects religion expression. (Now, a commercial business serving the public that may be owned or operated by a person with a religious affiliation does not fall under first amendment protection since a public commercial business is not an expression of ones faith.)
Cam
Countdown to the self hating trolls to come in here and start screaming that there is no difference between the Democrats and the GOP on gay issues?
Guys? Guys? Where are you on this one?
NoelG
It’s funny how Republicans like to write laws extending special rights to groups to prevent extending rights to special groups.
macmantoo
One part of the bill stated or implied that if they were Christians they would not have to process same sex marriages tax bills. Does that mean as a Gay man I don’t have to process the forms that state “In God We Trust” on the envelopes? I get a lot of envelopes with religious stuff on them, can I just throw them away too?