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Religious freedom under attack in Sacramento

Uploaded: Jun 28, 2016
Christian universities in California are facing an unprecedented act against their religious freedom because of legislation that already has passed the state Senate.
SB 1146 by Senator Richard Lara, a Democrat from Bell Gardens, now is being considered on the state Assembly. It would ban private Christian universities from requiring statements of faith that ensure the student’s belief system aligns with that of the university. It would require these private schools to admit students who hold beliefs anti-thetical to their Biblical world view.
It is the latest attack against Christians driven by the LGBT agenda and is, at its core, unconstitutional. The First Amendment guarantees the right to practice religion of our choice—no national religion. That’s why America has welcomed Muslims, Hindus and people of no faith regardless of the country’s Judeo-Christian heritage.
The freedom to practice also means that private universities, that take no public funding, should be free to follow their mission without interference from the government. Lara’s bill seeks to eliminate that constitutional right. If the bill was aimed at a publicly funded institution, the considerations would be different.
But this clearly is a giant abridgement of the freedom of religion. This was brought to my attention by John Jackson, president of William Jessup University in Rocklin (an institution with Bay Area roots and Bay Area classes). I learned about Jessup in 2013 and have become a huge fan of what it offers for students—including high rates of employability for graduates and less college debt compared to other institutions.
John wrote this in an email to supporters, “Faith-based institutions of higher education are making profound contributions to the intellectual and common good of society, contributions not in spite of but because of our deeply held faith convictions. Our presence in society enriches it rather than diminishes it. We provide economic vitality to our communities. Our graduates leave with servant-leader hearts. Our focus on ethics and integrity is inherent to all our programs. A disproportionate number of our graduates seek careers in public service or non-profit organizations. Why would California want to harm institutions like this?”
The bill is set for a hearing today in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
You can read more at Jessup's web site.
jessup.edu/religiousliberty
Local Journalism.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by J, a resident of Downtown,
on Jun 28, 2016 at 12:43 pm

"Freedom of religion means freedom to hold an opinion or belief, but not to take action in violation of social duties or subversive to good order." In Reynolds v. United States (1878)

What do ya know? It's not a legal loophole to legalize discrimination, poligamy or human sacrifice... Great news!


Posted by Michael Austin, a resident of Pleasanton Meadows,
on Jun 28, 2016 at 2:17 pm

Michael Austin is a registered user.

A slice OF history forgotten:

During the 1870's the American Indians was prohibited from practicing their religious beliefs, prohibited from visiting their sacred sites, prohibited from speaking their native language, just to name a few injustices. This prohibition against everything American Indian continued for one hundred years.

August 11, 1978 American Indian Religious Freedom Act became Law.

They had to pass a law to allow religious freedom for Indians while everyone else did not require a law to practice religion!!!


Posted by Rhel, a resident of Pleasanton Meadows,
on Jun 28, 2016 at 8:58 pm

I went to a Conservative Christian college back East. While they still don't allow LGBT (maybe a few, here and there), they did require an admission of faith. Despite that, I knew a couple of pagans and witches who lived on campus, and two covens that practiced in the woods (on the other side of the 700 acres from the campus). So, obviously, people will lie or, like me, become too disillusioned with the lies of Christianity – topic for a never day – to convert.

However, just from the synopsis that you present, this doesn't sound constitutional. If churches can prevent giving birth control/abortion to their employees, this would be very similar.


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Jul 1, 2016 at 2:48 pm

There is a long history of religious discrimination in the USA and it is well documented since the founding of the 13 colonies.

thank you very much!


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Jul 1, 2016 at 2:55 pm

By 1705, all 13 colonies has state supported religions that came with BENEFITS for specific followers:

Web Link

you're welcome!


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Jul 1, 2016 at 3:05 pm

I read the Jessup website carefully.

Despite the reference to many graduates having served in non-profits, etc., that doesn't mean that graduates have not sexually abused vulnerable children.

I track down photos of adult men/women clergy who have sexually abused children and vulnerable adults. Thousands upon thousands of Americans affiliated with a religious group have raped and sexually abused thousands of children in the USA and worldwide.

The photos of many perpetrators are listed on BishopAccountability.

this is my last comment...


Posted by Roz Rogoff, a resident of San Ramon,
on Jul 3, 2016 at 2:47 pm

Roz Rogoff is a registered user.

I guess this will go through the court systems until it reaches the Supreme Court. If someone isn't appointed to the open seat by the time it gets there, the Justices could be split 50/50 on it. But I tend to agree with Rhel that this does violate the Constitution. So it could be overturned by the courts.

I attended a Catholic college 45 years ago even though I'm Jewish and Agnostic. Iona College didn't require signing a religious belief clause to apply, and I really liked the school. There were about five or six other Jewish students when I was there, and most of them didn't like the required classes on the Old and New Testaments, but I found them both very interesting. I always like learning more about other religions.

Here's a link to George Washington's "Letter to the Jews" from 1790.

Web Link

Roz



Posted by Jake, a resident of Alamo,
on Jul 4, 2016 at 1:39 pm

In a one-party state, they can pass anything and make it"legal" constitutional or not. Few have the resources to challenge it since the other side has the purse of the state to almost eternally fight the challenges. Political parties have enabled some obscure politician to introduce items and use the party power to make them the law! hard to fight a group that has taxing power. We may need another revolution and this time heed the advice of George Washington and disallow political parties!


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