You gotta love the political lobbying arm of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Their 2009 legislative round-up provides an insight into the priorities of Catholic officialdom. One item is particularly interesting. The report sums up Barney Frank’s bill, H.R. 3685, The Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007.
As passed by the House of Representatives, H.R. 3685 would make it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employee or prospective employee because of the person’s actual or perceived homosexuality or bisexuality. Section 6 of H.R. 3685 contains a broad exemption for religious employers similar to the existing exemption for religious employers from Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964’s ban on religious discrimination. The bill failed to get beyond the House, as it has failed in the past.
Can you guess what position the they took on the bill? The USCCB had no position on the overall legislation but supported the religious exemption language contained in the legislation.
Great. It seems that the Bishops will cut deals on Capitol Hill. They will sacrifice the consciences of Catholic business owners in order to protect the Church. For that matter, they will sacrifice straightforward moral truths.
Compare their gamesmanship with the directive from the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith :
Where a matter of the common good is concerned, it is inappropriate for church authorities to endorse or remain neutral toward adverse legislation even if it grants exceptions to church organizations and institutions. The church has the responsibility to promote family life and the public morality of the entire civil society on the basis of fundamental moral values, not simply to protect herself from the application of harmful laws.
Shame on the USCCB being so spineless. And shame on the them for being so gullible. In the 2009 version of the bill, Barney Frank has added “gender identity” to “sexual orientation.” That means men who want to be treated as women, and women who want to be treated as men will be covered by the legislation. There is no limit to such expansions and it is fanciful to imagine that the gay rights zealots won’t chip away any deal that promises a religious exemption.
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