Conservatives nervous as hate crime bills advance in Congress
Adelle M. Banks/Religion News Service
Issue date: 5/17/09 Section: Divine Intervention
WASHINGTON - As the House took up a hate crimes bill that would add sexual orientation to a list of federally protected classes, Andrea Lafferty of the Traditional Values Coalition stood outside the Capitol and warned of dire consequences for clergy.
"They know the purpose of this bill is to silence pastors, to silence youth pastors, to silence people of faith," said Lafferty, joining her conservative Christian leaders and Republican lawmakers to oppose the bill.
But would it? The bill's supporters say it wouldn't, and accuse critics of spreading "absurd lies."
Despite growing conservative outcry, the House passed the legislation along party lines by a vote of 249-175 in April. Last week, the Senate introduced companion legislation.
The hate crimes bill, which would include physical attacks motivated by "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" among the crimes subject to special federal prosecution, has long been a top priority of gay rights groups. But some conservative Christian groups say it will reduce their ability to preach that homosexual behavior is sinful.
And with a Democrat in the White House who has stated his support for the legislation, they're more concerned than ever that the legislation could become law.
Groups ranging from Lafferty's coalition to the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention have mounted a last-ditch campaign to try to kill the bill as it heads to the Senate.
Barrett Duke, vice president for public policy at the Southern Baptist commission, said he is concerned that the legislation could lead to prosecution of clergy whose words against homosexuality get tied to a crime committed by someone who listened to them.
"This bill puts Christians and many other religious groups in the government's cross hairs," he said at a news conference spearheaded by Rep. Louie Gohmert, (R-Texas). "Those who teach that homosexuality is contrary to God's design may find that they as well are targeted by this law."
"They know the purpose of this bill is to silence pastors, to silence youth pastors, to silence people of faith," said Lafferty, joining her conservative Christian leaders and Republican lawmakers to oppose the bill.
But would it? The bill's supporters say it wouldn't, and accuse critics of spreading "absurd lies."
Despite growing conservative outcry, the House passed the legislation along party lines by a vote of 249-175 in April. Last week, the Senate introduced companion legislation.
The hate crimes bill, which would include physical attacks motivated by "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" among the crimes subject to special federal prosecution, has long been a top priority of gay rights groups. But some conservative Christian groups say it will reduce their ability to preach that homosexual behavior is sinful.
And with a Democrat in the White House who has stated his support for the legislation, they're more concerned than ever that the legislation could become law.
Groups ranging from Lafferty's coalition to the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention have mounted a last-ditch campaign to try to kill the bill as it heads to the Senate.
Barrett Duke, vice president for public policy at the Southern Baptist commission, said he is concerned that the legislation could lead to prosecution of clergy whose words against homosexuality get tied to a crime committed by someone who listened to them.
"This bill puts Christians and many other religious groups in the government's cross hairs," he said at a news conference spearheaded by Rep. Louie Gohmert, (R-Texas). "Those who teach that homosexuality is contrary to God's design may find that they as well are targeted by this law."
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