The City Council of San Antonio, led by Councilman Diego Bernal and supported by Mayor Julian Castro, is planning to enact discriminatory regulations that would lay the foundation for litigation against any person or business with Biblical values. For the first time in the history of this historic, family-oriented city, “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” would be added to the discrimination code in the city.
The most sensational portion of the original version of the proposed ordinance was the portion that said if you had ever “in word or in deed” discriminated against any of the protected classes that you could not serve on a city board or receive a city contract. Due to the outpouring of negative reactions and national pressure, that portion of the proposed ordinance has been removed. But the ordinance should still be defeated.
Religious liberty experts consider the effort to add sexual orientation and gender identity protections to anti-discrimination laws are detrimental to the original protections associated with the Establishment clause. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty reports that “over 350 separate state anti-discrimination provisions would likely be triggered by recognition of same-sex marriage.”
Thomas Messner, a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation, has documented multiple instances in which laws forbidding discrimination based on sexual orientation, as well as laws redefining marriage, have already eroded religious liberty and the rights of conscience. . . .National Review
Pastor Charles Flowers of Faith Outreach International has given leadership to the efforts to strike “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” from the San Antonio ordinance. Pastor Charles has mobilized several churches as well as spoken on radio and television about the harmful effects of such an ordinance.
The San Antonio Human Rights Coalition reports the consequences should this ordinance pass could be:
• Business owners will be fined for standing up for their religious beliefs.
• Business owners will no longer be able to operate their business pursuant to their religious convictions. They will be sued.
• Business owners will be forced to open their restroom and locker room facilities to members of the opposite sex. They will not be able to prohibit a transgendered individual from using the women’s restroom or locker room, despite the business owner’s religious beliefs.
PRAY and TAKE ACTION – If you live in the San Antonio area:
• You are invited to a Prayer Rally scheduled for Wednesday, August 14th, 5:00 p.m. at City Hall, 100 Military Plaza, San Antonio, 78205.
• There is another opportunity for Citizens to Be Heard at the City Council Chamber on the first floor of the Municipal Plaza Building located at 114 Commerce, 78205. Be there by 6:00 p.m. to speak or attend. The address is: 100 Military Plaza, San Antonio, 78205. If you miss this week, you may speak next Wednesday.
We encourage citizens all over America to engage in similar activities. Silence is consent – let our voices be heard!
Blessings,
Lea Carawan
Executive Director
Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation
Go to www.CPCFoundation.com [1] to learn more or get involved.
The Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization that was formed to support the call of America back to prayer and faith in God. The Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation is committed to preserving our Judeo-Christian heritage as a nation and protecting the religious liberty of all Americans.
(Source: www.praycog.com)