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Legislation to Codify Marriage Will Punish Christian Business Owners

The following is a transcript of Todd’s morning commentary – heard daily on hundreds of radio stations. Click here to get his award-winning daily podcast.

Hello Americans, I’m Todd Starnes. Stand by for news and commentary next. 

Senators passed a dangerous piece of legislation that will jeopardize the religious freedom of millions of Americans. 

Should Christians be forced to reject their beliefs?

What’s even more shocking is that a dozen Republicans joined Democrats to pass the so-called “Respect for Marriage Act.” Click here for the names of the Republicans who turned their back on people of faith.

The bill enshrines same-sex marriage into federal law. But that’s not why you should be concerned about the legislation. The bill also intentionally targets people who believe marriage is between one man and one woman.

It has nothing to do with respecting marriage. It has everything to do with payback. 

I warned you about this day in my book, “Culture Jihad: How to Stop the Left From Killing a Nation.” Click here to get a copy.

This legislation is not about respecting marriage, it’s about disrespecting people of faith.

“The (Dis)Respect for Marriage Act makes people prime targets for government harassment, investigation, prosecution, even civil action. This bill is a club, with which the Left will attempt to beat people of orthodox faith–who believe in marriage as God designed it and history has defined–into submission to their destructive sexuality ideology,” said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council.

The legislation exposes individual Christians as well as Christian ministries and businesses to predatory lawsuits. Any non-profit that refuses to endorse same-sex marriage could lose its tax exempt status.

“This dangerously cynical and completely unnecessary bill is a direct attack on the First Amendment,” said Ryan Bangert, of Alliance Defending Freedom. “It does nothing to change the legal status of same-sex marriage anywhere. But it undermines religious freedom everywhere and exposes Americans throughout the country to predatory lawsuits by activists seeking to use the threat of litigation to silence debate and exclude people of faith from the public square.”

We’ve already seen a multitude of attacks on Christian bakers, florists and wedding planners. Radical LGBT activists are literally using the court system to bully people who believe in natural marriage. 

Senator Mike Lee proposed an amendment that would have specifically protected people of faith – but that amendment was shot down. 

“Under the RFMA’s current language, many religious schools, faith-based organizations, and other non-profit entities adhering to traditional views of marriage would be at risk of losing tax-exempt status and access to a wide range of federal programs,” Lee said.

Many small businesses would also be affected, he said.

“For example, wedding vendors (including kosher caterers) would be subjected to endless lawsuits and harassment based solely on their beliefs,” the Utah Republican noted.

“There’s no reason Congress can’t protect same-sex marriage without sacrificing religious liberty,” he said.

The true nature of the bill was exposed when lawmakers objected to his amendment.

The end goal is to punish and neutralize the church. 

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