Equality Act Hits Religious Liberty – BJUtoday

During my time as president of Bob Jones University, I have rarely taken the opportunity to communicate directly with you concerning a legislative issue; however, I believe it is a necessity to contact you regarding the Equality Act (H.R. 5) that has passed the U.S. House of Representatives and will soon be debated in the U.S. Senate.This legislation, if enacted, would deeply affect our ability to educate our students according to biblical truth.Unlike virtually all state and local laws that forbid discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), the Equality Act contains no exemptions for religious organizations or others exercising their religious beliefs.In addition to the absence of any religious exemptions, the Equality Act partially repeals the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which was adopted by overwhelming bipartisan majorities and signed into law by President Clinton in 1993.Under the Equality Act, many religious colleges, such as BJU, that participate in federal grant programs would be forced to adopt SOGI ideology or else lose the federal grants currently available to their students.It’s likely that passage and implementation of the Equality Act would mean Christian colleges would be considered a place of “public accommodation” that “provides a good, service, or program.” Under the Equality Act, Christian colleges would be forced to hire professors and accept students who are unwilling to abide by biblical sexual standards. It is possible that Christian institutions would be permitted to continue teaching the biblical ethics of human sexuality, but they most certainly would be prohibited from expecting faculty, staff and students to practice those beliefs.

Source: From the President: Equality Act Hits Religious Liberty – BJUtoday