Would restrict religious protections and expand them for gender identity.
H.R. 5, a carryover from the 116th Congress, also known as the Equality Act, is scheduled for a floor vote in the House of Representatives Thursday. The bill “prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system.”
A group that represents over 1,500 traditional, Orthodox rabbis in matters of public policy, called for the rejection of the Equality Act as “a direct attack on Jewish religious values and practices.” The chairman of the rabbinic group said, “the law even explicitly rejects religious freedom as a defense.” They voice concerns over the Act calling the Bible a bigoted document that promotes discrimination, and that it could potentially end the protection of religious liberty entirely in the nation.
The bill would also prohibit private foster care and adoption agencies from making decisions based on religious beliefs.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- Pray for the protection of religious freedoms in the United States.
- Pray for the members of the House as they vote on this legislation.
- Pray for better means to encourage non-discriminatory practices without infringing on other rights.
- Give thanks to God for His Word and His desires for the lives of humankind.
Sources: Congress.gov, Religious News Service
