ENDA, Religious exemption and Kentucky Baptists

[Sandy]

http://www.christianpost.com/news/relig ... al-108213/

ENDA, the Employment Non Discrimination Act, passed the US Senate Monday. The act is billed as the end-all legislation to prevent discrimination in employment against gays, lesbians and trans-gendered persons. The religious exemption was strengthened before several Senators would vote to give the bill a 60 plus margin, and includes an extension to protect churches and church-related institutions, such as schools, hospitals, children's homes, not only from prosecution, but from losing tax exempt status, contracts, etc., for non-compliance. We've been dealing with this at my school.

Kentucky Baptists are also dealing with it. The exec director of their children's homes, Sunrise Children's Services, sent a letter out to pastors of churches advocating for allowing the homes to drop their compliance with KBC's policy of not hiring persons of homosexual orientation, because the state is the main source of placements of children in residential care, and they depend on the fees provided in order to care for them. That would have stopped if ENDA had passed without the religious exemptions in the bill.

Critics think the exemptions are too broad. I think that institutions like hospitals, schools and children's homes are extensions of church ministries, and should be exempt from having to hire persons whom they feel, by lifestyle choices, are not compatible with the Christian beliefs that are at the core of their existence and operation. It would be an infringement on our religious liberty to be forced to hire someone that we didn't feel was compatible with our Christian convictions. I hope Kentucky Baptists determine that their children's services will not compromise on this issue.

[KeithE]