The Georgia Senate has just passed a controversial religious-freedom bill that can take effect as early as Monday if Governor Nathan Dale signs it. The Religious Liberty Bill is the recent version of earlier drafts that had seen numerous amendments. Proponents have said it protects freedom to exercise one's religion, especially ministers. Critics challenge that it perpetuates discrimination, especially against the LGBT community.
Reuters reported the arguments given by both sides. The Bill preseves the rights of faith-based organizations, like churches, hospitals, associations and schools, to exercise their duties in accordance with their beliefs. Pastors cannot be compelled to perform same-sex weddings. Religious institutions and groups also can be free to decide which events they can hold, and can reject those whose beliefs do not align with theirs. Business owners can also not be forced to hire or retain employees with ideas, principles, and lifestyles that run counter to their faith.
In a related report, News4Jax says that the bill passed 38-14 after three hours of heated debate. Republican Senator, Greg Kirk, who sponsored the bill says that the Atlanta Journal-Constitution upholds the bill as protection for equality and is not pro-discrimination. He said, "It only impacts the government's interaction with faith-based organizations or a person who holds faith-based, sincerely held beliefs as it relates to marriage."
Meanwhile, Georgia Unites Against Discrimination argues that the proposed bill would "allow tax-payer funded organizations to legally discriminate against LGBT Georgians."
KWCH 12 reports that Gov. Dale has indicated his lack of enthusiasm for the proposed bill. In arguing for inclusion, he points to Jesus who reached out to "the outcasts," which in this context means the LGBT community.
Mike Griffin, a spokesman for the Georgia Baptist Convention, maintains that the bill still comes down to protection of religious freedom. He asserts, "We feel we've advanced our protection of our First Amendment Right to religious freedom. Our rights of religious liberty don't end inside the four walls of a church."
