ATLANTA (January 13, 2015) | Earlier today, an inter-faith coalition of clergy hosted at the Capitol by Senator Nan Orrock (D—Atlanta) presented a letter urging Georgia lawmakers to oppose the “religious freedom” bills proposed in the state legislature.
The letter, signed by more than 60 faith leaders from across the state, cites concerns about the potential for an increase in discrimination against people of all backgrounds.
“We strongly oppose giving for-profit corporations religious rights that could allow them to discriminate against employees based on any characteristic—from their religious practices to their sexual orientation. This principle harkens back to the civil rights movement and our nation’s core values of equality and justice,” the letter reads, in part.
“As a rabbi, I believe religious freedom is one of our most important freedoms,” said Rabbi Peter Berg, senior rabbi at The Temple. “But this bill gives people the right to harm others, and to do so in the name of religion. That is not religious freedom. That is discrimination. The faith community did not ask for this bill, and the faith community does not support this bill.”
“I am for religious freedom, and I am for religious responsibility” said Rev. James Lamkin, pastor at Northside Drive Baptist Church. “And I am against House Bill 29. I believe we can do this because we stand strong together on the ground of religious freedom.”
Rabbi Berg and Rev. Lamkin both worked to help pass the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 1993, which supporters of H.B. 29 say their bill is based on.
“We believe that love of neighbor guides our standing today” said Rev. William Flippin, Jr., pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran Church. “This RFRA bill infringes on ethics and our love of neighbor.”
“I want to thank and acknowledge the wisdom and perspective that was shared this morning from leading members of Georgia’s faith community,” said Senator Orrock. “The business community is highly concerned. The religious community is highly concerned. We must be very clear that legislation like this is divisive and not good for Georgia.”
The clergy’s letter is the first action in a campaign by Georgia clergy to lobby against the passage of controversial “religions freedom” bills.
The full letter, including the list of signers (affiliations are listed for identification purposes only), can be found here: http://www.faithinpubliclife.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Georgia-Faith-Leaders-Unite-Against-Discrimination.pdf
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For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, January 13 2015
For Information Contact:
Jennifer Yarber, Director
Brett Johnson, Broadcast Specialist
Brett.Johnson@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028