It appears that Evangelicals are the darling of the new administration, but the Catholics, not quite so much. Or maybe the Catholics will do better as events unfold. We’ll have to watch and see.
As of now, the USCCB is “concerned” because President Trump has decided to retain an Obama executive order which, “prohibits federal government contractors from sexual orientation and gender-identity discrimination and forbids gender-identity discrimination in the employment of federal employees.”
The USCCB wants religious exemptions to the order.
This action on the part of President Trump does seem to run contrary to his “I’ve got your back” promise to the bishops concerning matters of religious freedom. But it is probably smart politics, as it could split homosexuals out of the opposition to the Trump Administration.
From the National Catholic Register:
WASHINGTON — The U.S. bishops are concerned by the Trump administration’s decision to maintain a “troubling” Obama-era executive order that could demand federal contractors violate their religious beliefs on marriage and gender ideology.
“In seeking to remedy instances of discrimination, it creates new forms of discrimination against people of faith. Keeping the executive order intact is not the answer,” the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said Feb. 1.
“The Church steadfastly opposes all unjust discrimination, and we need to continue to advance justice and fairness in the workplace,” the bishops added. “Executive Order 13672, however, creates problems rather than solves them.”
The executive order is “deeply flawed” with “many problems,” they said, voicing hope the administration would be open to ways to advance conscience rights.
Signed by President Barack Obama, the order prohibits federal government contractors from sexual orientation and gender-identity discrimination and forbids gender-identity discrimination in the employment of federal employees.
The executive order immediately drew criticism for its lack of religious exemptions. Religious groups voiced concern that they could be disqualified from federal contracts if their faith forbids them to affirm same-sex unions as marriages or to pay for employees’ transgender “transition” surgeries.
On Jan. 31, the Trump White House affirmed its support for Obama’s order.
“The executive order signed in 2014, which protects employees from anti-LGBTQ workplace discrimination while working for federal contractors, will remain intact at the direction of President Donald J. Trump,” it said.
It added that President Trump is “proud” to have been the first Republican presidential nominee “to mention the LGBTQ community in his nomination acceptance speech, pledging then to protect the community from violence and oppression.” It said the president is “determined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community.”
In other news, I got an urgent email from the USCCB yesterday, asking me to “urge President Trump (to) sign executive order respecting religious freedom.”
I am going to send off a request that President Trump sign an executive order respecting religious freedom. I urge you to do the same.
From the USCCB:
Urge President Trump to Sign Executive Order Respecting Religious Freedom
Religious freedom in America has suffered years of unprecedented erosion. President Trump can correct some of this within the executive branch. He can restore the federal government’s respect for the religious freedom of individuals and organizations by signing an Executive Order that establishes a government-wide initiative to respect religious freedom.
Elements of such an Order should include:
- Relief from the mandate of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that forces the Little Sisters of the Poor and others to facilitate the provision of contraception, sterilization, and abortion-inducing drugs and devices in their health plans.
- Preservation of tax-exempt status for nonprofits that hold beliefs based on marriage, human sexuality, and the protection of human life at all stages.
- The ability of religious organizations that partner with the federal government to act according to their beliefs regarding marriage, human sexuality, and the protection of human life at all stages.
- A broad religious exemption to Executive Order 13672 so that faith-based organizations can continue to partner with the federal government to provide much-needed services here at home and abroad.
- The ability of religiously affiliated child welfare providers to provide adoption, foster, or family support services for children in accordance with their religious beliefs.
- Protection of accreditation for religious schools based on their beliefs.
- Conscience protections regarding abortion in the individual health insurance market.
Any Executive Order should make it clear that religious freedom entails more than the freedom to worship but also includes the ability of act on one’s beliefs. It should also protect individuals and families who run closely-held businesses in accordance with their faith to the greatest extent possible
In other areas, President Trump has evidently promised to “destroy” the Johnson Amendment to the 1964 Civil Rights Act which prohibits religious entities from preaching politics from the pulpit. Doing this will require passing an actual law through Congress, since the Johnson Amendment is statutory. It hails from those times when Congress actually passed laws.
The bishops might consider that executive orders change with presidents, but laws abide. Religious freedom should be enshrined in law.
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