Dodging a bullet, and what we can learn

Advocates of religious freedom just dodged a bullet in California.  Since California often influences the rest of the nation, we all have benefited from the work there.  And we all can learn how to fight for religious freedom in the days to come.

Darren Guerra and Andrew Walker outline today at Public Discourse the recent battle in California.

“Thanks to the aggression of the state legislature, California religious colleges faced an existential threat. SB1146, a bill sponsored by California State Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), threatened to drastically limit religious freedom protections for religious colleges and universities and to remove the ability of socioeconomically disadvantaged students to choose religious schools when using state grant funding. The most egregious element of the bill would have narrowed the types of schools that could receive an exemption from California’s anti-discrimination law, a law that includes the contested categories of sexual orientation and gender identity. Any school that upheld expectations about student behavior in accordance with a religious sexual ethic at odds with California law would be found in violation of the law. As a result, the overly narrow exemption that the law sought would only leave institutions such as seminaries protected. If it had passed, it would have exposed faith-based institutions to endless costly lawsuits simply for remaining faithful to their religious traditions, putting these institutions on the wrong side of California law.”

“So how did a fledgling minority of religious conservatives stop a supposedly unstoppable bill in the bluest of blue states? What lessons can be learned from the battle over SB1146?

“First, college presidents led by Barry Corey (Biola), Jon Wallace (Azusa Pacific), John Jackson (William Jessup), and many others engaged respectfully yet firmly with Senator Lara and other legislators as word of SB1146 emerged. This opened the door for university attorneys and leaders to suggest acceptable amendments as the legislative process moved forward.”

“Groups like Alliance Defending Freedom, the Heritage Foundation, the Colson Center, the Becket Fund, and many others engaged California’s overreaching SB1146. Notably, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission spearheaded a remarkable effort that gathered an impressive list of signatories from across the theological and political spectrum including Jewish, Catholic, Islamic, Protestant, Mormon, and agnostic leaders who spoke unequivocally against the bill. The statement included individuals who disagree with religious conservatives on matters of sexuality but care about religious liberty.”

“Perhaps most notably in a ‘majority minority’ state like California, African-American and Latino churches played a crucial and possibly decisive role as they mobilized to voice concerns to their local and state representatives. This effort may have been the deciding factor for many urban and moderate Democratic legislators.”

“Indeed, SB1146 prompted an unprecedented joint letter on August 2 by prominent Catholic and African-American Protestant leaders. . . . . In a one-party state like California, the strong stance of African-American and Latino Christians, Catholic and Evangelical alike, garnered the attention of Democratic lawmakers.”

“The war is far from over, but the battle in California shows that pluralism, religious liberty, and traditional values can be defended where there is a will to mobilize and resist. In the end, citizens who value the right of conscience must be prepared to offer respectful but firm resistance when faced with shortsighted efforts to undermine the healthy pluralism that has long characterized our diverse and vibrant polity.”