(Mark Pellin, Headline USA) A favored tenet of LGBT orthodoxy peddled by Democrats for partisan intent gained another foothold in the culture war launched by the Left, when a dozen RINOs joined Senate Democrats on Monday to approve the so-called Respect for Marriage Act, which skewers the traditional and biblical definition of marriage and scuttles the Clinton-era Defense of Marriage Act.
Aside from the moral and societal sides to a declaration that ensures same-sex marriages are enshrined in federal law, and directs states to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, critics contend that the approved legislation also opens a door for not only stifling religious liberties, but also actively persecuting and financially punishing anyone who doesn’t recognize marriage outside of a man and woman.
Three amendments to the bill that could have erased those concerns and helped to preserve religious freedoms without threat of persecution were shot down, drawing fire from Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who crafted one of the rejected compromises.
“My amendment simply prohibits the federal government from retaliating against schools, businesses and organizations because of their religious beliefs about same-sex marriage,” Lee said. “That is all it does.”
The amendment would have blocked the IRS from revoking the tax-exempt status of such groups “simply because they act according to their beliefs about the divine purpose of marriage,” Lee said, adding that the measure would also protect individuals from being denied business licenses and grants based on their views of marriage.
“We must be willing to compromise to protect the interests of all,” said Lee, who reiterated that he would vote for the bill if it included the protective amendment.
My amendment simply prohibits the Federal Government from retaliating against schools, businesses, and organizations because of their religious beliefs about same-sex marriage.
That is all it does. pic.twitter.com/xBdUiiybWA
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) November 29, 2022
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer had plans that didn’t involve compromise, and brought a dozen RINOs on board to ram the legislation through, to be forwarded in short order to the House and then to President Joe Biden.
NEW: Senate passes Respect for Marriage Act 61-37, with 12 Republicans voting in favor:
– Collins
– Portman
– Tillis
– Romney
– Murkowski
– Blunt
– Burr
– Capito
– Lummis
– Sullivan
– Young
– Ernsthttps://t.co/A87VPlZPg6— bryan metzger (@metzgov) November 29, 2022
“Why wouldn’t anyone want to deny the federal government the authority to retaliate against individuals, non-profits and other entities based on their sincerely held religious beliefs,” Lee asked from the Senate floor.
“Think about that for a minute. Why wouldn’t they want to deny that very power from a government that may wield it, in a way that is categorically abusive.”
The US Senate refused to accept any religious exemptions in the “Respect” for Marriage act.
Pastors and priests will be forced to comply or risk lawsuits and the revocation of their tax exempt status.
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) November 30, 2022
