{"id":31240,"date":"2017-02-03T12:45:11","date_gmt":"2017-02-03T19:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/publiccatholic\/?p=31240"},"modified":"2024-11-18T20:47:38","modified_gmt":"2024-11-19T03:47:38","slug":"bishops-troubled-evangelicals-ecstatic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/publiccatholic\/2017\/02\/bishops-troubled-evangelicals-ecstatic\/","title":{"rendered":"Bishops “Troubled.” Evangelicals Ecstatic."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"Photo<\/a>
Photo Source: Flickr creative commons by Gage Skidmore, https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/gageskidmore\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

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\u2019ll have to watch and see.<\/p>\n

As of now, the USCCB is \u201cconcerned\u201d because President Trump has decided to retain an Obama executive order\u00a0which, \u201cprohibits federal government contractors from sexual orientation and gender-identity discrimination and forbids gender-identity discrimination in the employment of federal employees.\u201d<\/p>\n

The USCCB wants religious exemptions to the order.<\/p>\n

From the National Catholic Register:\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. bishops are concerned by the Trump administration\u2019s decision to maintain a \u201ctroubling\u201d Obama-era executive order that could demand federal contractors violate their religious beliefs on marriage and gender ideology.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 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,\u201d the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said Feb. 1.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Church steadfastly opposes all unjust discrimination, and we need to continue to advance justice and fairness in the workplace,\u201d the bishops added. \u201cExecutive Order 13672, however, creates problems rather than solves them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The executive order is \u201cdeeply flawed\u201d with \u201cmany problems,\u201d they said, voicing hope the administration would be open to ways to advance conscience rights.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019 transgender \u201ctransition\u201d surgeries.<\/p>\n

On Jan. 31, the Trump White House affirmed its support for Obama\u2019s order.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

It added that President Trump is \u201cproud\u201d to have been the first Republican presidential nominee \u201cto mention the LGBTQ community in his nomination acceptance speech, pledging then to protect the community from violence and oppression.\u201d It said the president is \u201cdetermined to protect the rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In other news, I got an urgent email from the USCCB yesterday, asking me to \u201curge President Trump (to) sign executive order respecting religious freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

From the USCCB:<\/p>\n

Urge President Trump to Sign Executive Order Respecting Religious Freedom<\/a><\/p>\n

Religious freedom in America has suffered years of unprecedented erosion.\u00a0 President Trump can correct some of this within the executive branch.\u00a0 He can restore the federal government\u2019s respect for the religious freedom of individuals and organizations by signing an Executive Order that establishes a government-wide initiative to respect religious freedom.<\/p>\n

Elements of such an Order should include:<\/p>\n