Religious liberty protection that isn't

The Chicago Tribune today takes a look at the religious protections that aren't granted by the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act:

Critics of the bill that positions Illinois to become the 15th state to allow gay marriage point out that, though it protects clergy and houses of worship, it doesn't spell out exemptions for people and businesses who, based on their religious beliefs, might not want to do business with same-sex couples. The text of the bill makes clear that it doesn't alter two related laws: the Illinois Human Rights Act and the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act allows exemptions from certain rules as long as those exceptions don't harm the welfare of society.

For more particular examples, read the article.

It should be remembered that when the Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act was passed and signed into law, we were repeatedly told that the Human Rights Act and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act protected religious liberty, yet it took only 6 months for the state to force Catholic Charities out of foster care and adoption services:

In addition to objecting to the law on moral grounds, Catholic groups say the narrow exemption for clergy and places of worship fails to protect the religious freedoms of other religious entities such as hospitals, schools, nursing homes and social services.

Patrick Cacchione, executive director of the Illinois Catholic Health Association, points out that when Catholic Charities refused to issue foster care licenses to gay couples in civil unions, the state chose not to renew its contract, saying it violated the law.

"I couldn't have anticipated it," Cacchione said, recalling assurances from lawmakers that the civil union law would not interfere with the groups' social work. "I was shocked."

After that surprise consequence, Cacchione said, he expects the marriage law to produce "fallout that I can't even anticipate."

"That's what we fear going forward: the unknown, the implementation, the administration of this and the variety of different rules and regulations that we can't even imagine," he said.

Same-sex marriage bill not well thought through

In order to lower the number of votes required for the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act to pass in Illinois by 11, the bill's sponsor, Representative Greg Harris (D-Chicago) changed the effective date of SB10:

Harris changed Senate Bill 10 before Tuesday’s vote, delaying its effective date until June 1. That meant the bill needed 60 votes to pass the House on Tuesday instead of 71. It is also the reason why the Senate had to vote on the bill again after passing it on Valentine’s Day.

It was apparently not well thought through, because June 1, 2014 falls on a Sunday when the offices of the county clerks are closed.

Some clerks have said their offices will be open, but others are yet undecided.  So one politician, Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), has proposed to - you guessed it! - change the effective date of the legislation yet again, and to move it earlier.

To be fair, I'm not a lawyer.  However, it seems to me that if the effective date is moved earlier then the bill should require a new voted and require the original number of votes needed to pass: 71 instead of the lower 60 in the House of Representatives.  Lawmakers, however, won't do that because the bill only received 61 votes in the House.

This is what happens when legislators legislate by emotion and not by reason.  Was it really that difficult to consult a calendar?

Welcome to Illinois.

The politicians are lying about Pope Francis and same-sex marriage

According to the State Journal-Register, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has attempted to use words spoken by His Holiness Pope Francis to justify his support for the redefinition of marriage and the restricting of religious liberty:

“Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church was quoted as saying ‘If someone is gay and searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge,’ ” Madigan said. “He has articulated the basics of my thinking on this issue. For those who happen to be gay and living in a very harmonious, productive relationship, but illegal, who am I to judge if it should be illegal?”

Speaker Madigan isn't the only one doing so. The Chicago Tribune reports a similar response from Representative Linda Chapa LaVia:

"As a Catholic follower of Jesus and the pope, Pope Francis, I am clear that our Catholic religious doctrine has at its core love, compassion and justice for all people," said Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, a Democrat from Aurora who voted for the bill after spending much of the summer undecided.

Not to be outdone by these politicians, the Chicago Tribune goes so far as to make the bold - and blatantly false claim - that "Advocates soon received additional help from Pope Francis, who warned that the Catholic Church could lose its way by focusing too much on social stances, including opposition to homosexuality."

The statement alludes to these words said by the Holy Father: "We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods. This is not possible."  He said these words on September 19, 2013 in the context of speaking about confession (which I explained here) and the very next day condemned abortion and euthanasia:

Every child who, rather than being born, is condemned unjustly to being aborted, bears the face of Jesus Christ, bears the face of the Lord, who even before he was born, and then just after birth, experienced the world's rejection. And every elderly person – I spoke of children: let us move to the elderly, another point! And every elderly person, even if he is ill or at the end of his days, bears the face of Christ. They cannot be discarded, as the “culture of waste” suggests! They cannot be thrown away!

This glaring example demonstrates the media's irresponsible manner of reporting on the words of the Holy Father.

So what are we to make of his question, "Who am I to judge?"  Did Pope Francis, with those words, approve of same-sex "marriage"?  Here is the full quote:

A gay person who is seeking God, who is of good will — well, who am I to judge him? The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains this very well. It says one must not marginalize these persons, they must be integrated into society. The problem isn’t this (homosexual) orientation — we must be like brothers and sisters. The problem is something else, the problem is lobbying either for this orientation or a political lobby or a Masonic lobby.

A responsible reporter - and a responsible politician (especially a Catholic one) would pick up the Catechism of the Catholic Church, where he would read:

2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.

 Notice that the Catechism does not endorse same-sex "marriage". And neither did Pope Francis.

Indeed, when he was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, on July 8, 2010, he said of the efforts to redefine marriage there:

What is at stake is the identity and survival of the family: father, mother, and children. What is at stake are the lives of so many children who are discriminated against in advance, deprived of the human maturation that God wanted to give them with a father and a mother. What is at stake is a direct rejection of God’s law, which is also engraved in our hearts. Let’s not be naive: it is not just a political struggle; it is a destructive claim against God's plan. It is not merely a legislative bill (this is only the instrument) but a move by the Father of Lies who seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God.

Those don't sound like the words of a man who supports what these politicians and reporters do.

Take a poll for the SJR about same-sex "marriage"

The State Journal Register regularly has a poll question on the main page of its web site with simple responses.  Today the question is:

The Illinois House approved a gay marriage measure Tuesday, sending it to the Senate for technical changes. Gov. Pat Quinn has pledged to sign the bill when it reaches him. What’s your opinion of the legislature’s actions?

The possible responses are "Approve" and "Disapprove".  You know what to do.  (Hint: The poll is in the right sidebar though you have to scroll down a bit for it.)

The end of religious liberty in the Land of Lincoln

Several people have repeatedly told me that with the passage of the so-called Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act in Illinois, which redefines marriage and strips away religious liberty, that ministers and churches will not be required to officiate at such "weddings" or rent buildings to the couples, as if religious liberty entailed nothing more.

In answer to this oft-repeated notion, the executive director of the Illinois Catholic Conference has warned now of what Real Clear Religion calls "the end of religious liberty in the Land of Lincoln" since both the Senate and the House of Representatives have approved the legislation:

We know better this time. We know our religious freedom is not protected. And when we asked for more protection, our pleas for fairness were rebuffed and spurned.

Senate Bill 10 offers no specific protection regarding employment practices. If a current church employee chooses to "marry" a same-sex partner, the legislation offers no specific protection regarding the church being forced to pay -- from funds collected every Sunday from faithful church-goers in the pews -- for benefits for the "spouse."

The legislation offers no conscience protections to health-care facilities, educational facilities, or social service agencies. So, faith-based hospitals, colleges, and universities that own and operate venues for rent are not protected.

Individuals and independent business owners whose religious beliefs do not condone same-sex marriage are also left in the dust. There are the stories about the photographers, bakers, florists, and bed-and-breakfast owners who have come under fire for refusing to serve same-sex weddings. What about the county judge asked to perform a same-sex wedding, or a public school teacher forced to teach about a family with two moms, two dads, or some other permutation?

They get nada.

Is this fairness, or tolerance?

Be sure to read the entire piece.

UPDATES (5): Illinois House of Reps approves redefinition of marriage, restricts religious liberty

In what will certainly prove to be a regrettable day in the history of the state of Illinois, the House of Representatives voted to approve SB10, the misnamed Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act in an attempt to redefine marriage:

The House voted 61-54 legalize same-sex marriage less than six months after sponsoring Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, put off a vote because he said he didn’t have the votes to pass it. The bill needed 60 votes to pass the House.

Harris changed Senate Bill 10 before Tuesday’s vote, delaying its effective date until June 1. That meant the bill needed 60 votes to pass the House on Tuesday instead of 71. It is also the reason why the Senate had to vote on the bill again after passing it on Valentine’s Day [more].

In response to the vote, the Catholic Conference of Illinois said,

Today’s decision by Illinois lawmakers to change the definition of marriage not only goes against the common consensus of the human race – which understands that nature tells us that marriage is the union of one man and one woman – but it also undermines an institution that is the cornerstone of a healthy society. The optimal condition in which to raise children is a home that includes both a mother and father, since women and men are not interchangeable.

The Catholic Conference of Illinois is deeply disappointed that members of the General Assembly chose to redefine what is outside of its authority: a natural institution like marriage. We remain concerned about the very real threats to religious liberty that are at stake with the passage of this bill.

At least some of the representatives recognize the serious threats to religious liberty this legislation poses.  The State Journal-Register quotes Representative Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) as saying, "This bill is the worst in the U.S. in protecting religious liberty. It does not have the religious protections most of us agree should happen."

Update 1: You can view the roll call here to learn how your representative voted, either in favor of religious liberty or against it.

Update 2: The Quincy Herald-Whig reports that legislators from West-central Illinois "followed will of their districts in opposing same-sex marriage."  What a novel idea for a representative republic.

Update 3: Robert Gilligan, the executive director of the Illinois Catholic Conference, has written an editorial in which he points out the protections for religious liberty not included in the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.

Update 4: Governor Quinn plans to sign the bill this month. Will his faith motivate him to sign this one, as well?

Update 5: Governor Quinn will sign the bill November 20th.

Bishop speaks clearly as efforts to protect marriage continue

A protest rally was held Tuesday at Illinois capitol in Springfield for so-called "marriage equality" and members of the Rainbow Sash Movement had planned to pray and protest in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception:

The Rainbow Sash Movement is calling for silent prayer to begin 4:30PM just before the 5:15PM Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. A rosary for Marriage Equality will be said in silence. By standing up in the Cathedral you will indicate you are there to pray the rosary for Marriage Equality. Let us come together as a spiritual family in prayer after the March.

Naturally, that prompted a clear response from His Excellency the Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki, Bishop of Springfield in Illinois (with my emphases):

The Rainbow Sash Movement has encouraged Roman Catholics to come to Springfield to "have a loud Catholic presence for marriage equality." They have announced plans to gather at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 4:30 p.m. just before the 5:15 p.m. Mass to stand in the Cathedral and indicate that they are there to pray the rosary for "marriage equality."

It is blasphemy to show disrespect or irreverence to God or to something holy. Since Jesus clearly taught that marriage as created by God is a sacred institution between a man and a woman (see Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9), praying for same-sex marriage should be seen as blasphemous and as such will not be permitted in the cathedral.

People wearing a rainbow sash or who otherwise identify themselves as affiliated with the Rainbow Sash Movement will not be admitted into the cathedral and anyone who gets up to pray for same-sex marriage in the cathedral will be asked to leave.

Of course, our cathedral and parish churches are always open to everyone who wishes to repent their sins and ask for God's forgiveness [video here].

The State Journal-Register reports that police were present outside the Cathedral prior to the evening Mass, presumably as a precaution:

Police cars were parked near the church in the hour leading up to Tuesday’s Mass, and one officer could be seen standing within the main entryway doors.

In the same report, the SJR notes that one member of the Rainbow Sash Movement entered the Cathedral - without wearing a sash - and did not cause a scene.

About 12 additional votes are still needed in order for the Illinois House to pass SB 10, the so-called (despite the grave threats it poses to religious liberty) Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, which has already passed in the Senate by a vote of 34-21.

Please, make every effort to attend Wednesday's Defend Marriage Lobby Day at the capitol and ask your Representative to vote no on SB 10 in favor of religious liberty.

Update: A friend who went to pray in the Cathedral at 4:30 p.m. said "the whole thing wound up being a non-event," which is good to know.

The Rainbow Sash Movement has encouraged Roman Catholics to come to Springfield to "have a loud Catholic presence for marriage equality." They have announced plans to gather at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 4:30 p.m. just before the 5:15 p.m. Mass to stand in the Cathedral and indicate that they are there to pray the rosary for "marriage equality."
It is blasphemy to show disrespect or irreverence to God or to something holy. Since Jesus clearly taught that marriage as created by God is a sacred institution between a man and a woman (see Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9), praying for same-sex marriage should be seen as blasphemous and as such will not be permitted in the cathedral.
People wearing a rainbow sash or who otherwise identify themselves as affiliated with the Rainbow Sash Movement will not be admitted into the cathedral and anyone who gets up to pray for same-sex marriage in the cathedral will be asked to leave.
Of course, our cathedral and parish churches are always open to everyone who wishes to repent their sins and ask for God's forgiveness.
- See more at: http://dio.org/communications/press-releases348-statement-regarding-planned-rainbow-sash-event-at-cathedral.html#sthash.z4wLUPS7.dpuf

The Rainbow Sash Movement has encouraged Roman Catholics to come to Springfield to "have a loud Catholic presence for marriage equality." They have announced plans to gather at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 4:30 p.m. just before the 5:15 p.m. Mass to stand in the Cathedral and indicate that they are there to pray the rosary for "marriage equality."
It is blasphemy to show disrespect or irreverence to God or to something holy. Since Jesus clearly taught that marriage as created by God is a sacred institution between a man and a woman (see Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9), praying for same-sex marriage should be seen as blasphemous and as such will not be permitted in the cathedral.
People wearing a rainbow sash or who otherwise identify themselves as affiliated with the Rainbow Sash Movement will not be admitted into the cathedral and anyone who gets up to pray for same-sex marriage in the cathedral will be asked to leave.
Of course, our cathedral and parish churches are always open to everyone who wishes to repent their sins and ask for God's forgiveness.
- See more at: http://dio.org/communications/press-releases348-statement-regarding-planned-rainbow-sash-event-at-cathedral.html#sthash.z4wLUPS7.dpuf

The Rainbow Sash Movement has encouraged Roman Catholics to come to Springfield to "have a loud Catholic presence for marriage equality." They have announced plans to gather at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 4:30 p.m. just before the 5:15 p.m. Mass to stand in the Cathedral and indicate that they are there to pray the rosary for "marriage equality."
It is blasphemy to show disrespect or irreverence to God or to something holy. Since Jesus clearly taught that marriage as created by God is a sacred institution between a man and a woman (see Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9), praying for same-sex marriage should be seen as blasphemous and as such will not be permitted in the cathedral.
People wearing a rainbow sash or who otherwise identify themselves as affiliated with the Rainbow Sash Movement will not be admitted into the cathedral and anyone who gets up to pray for same-sex marriage in the cathedral will be asked to leave.
Of course, our cathedral and parish churches are always open to everyone who wishes to repent their sins and ask for God's forgiveness.
- See more at: http://dio.org/communications/press-releases348-statement-regarding-planned-rainbow-sash-event-at-cathedral.html#sthash.z4wLUPS7.dpuf

The Rainbow Sash Movement has encouraged Roman Catholics to come to Springfield to "have a loud Catholic presence for marriage equality." They have announced plans to gather at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 4:30 p.m. just before the 5:15 p.m. Mass to stand in the Cathedral and indicate that they are there to pray the rosary for "marriage equality."
It is blasphemy to show disrespect or irreverence to God or to something holy. Since Jesus clearly taught that marriage as created by God is a sacred institution between a man and a woman (see Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9), praying for same-sex marriage should be seen as blasphemous and as such will not be permitted in the cathedral.
People wearing a rainbow sash or who otherwise identify themselves as affiliated with the Rainbow Sash Movement will not be admitted into the cathedral and anyone who gets up to pray for same-sex marriage in the cathedral will be asked to leave.
Of course, our cathedral and parish churches are always open to everyone who wishes to repent their sins and ask for God's forgiveness.
- See more at: http://dio.org/communications/press-releases348-statement-regarding-planned-rainbow-sash-event-at-cathedral.html#sthash.z4wLUPS7.dpuf

Illinois Senate uncertain of morality of marriage

With the Illinois General Assembly soon returning to Springfield, the Chicago Tribune published an article yesterday looking at the possibility of the legislature passing SB 10, the so-called Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act in the coming weeks.

Lawmakers in favor of same-sex "marriage" always speak of such legislation as "the right thing to do" and yet they also recognize that passing such a bill will likely harm their re-election efforts:

The key hurdle is timing. Lawmakers will start filing re-election paperwork at the end of November, so casting a vote for gay marriage now would leave a month or so for challengers opposed to it to gather enough signatures to get on the March primary election ballot.

This is precisely why the bill did not muster enough votes in the last session (and why the General Assembly passed the so-called Religious Freedom Protect and Civil Union Act in the "lame duck" session when their re-elections were not at risk).  It simply shows that the legislators are uncertain as to the "right thing" to do because, one might argue, deep down they fully understand the difficulties this bill places on religious liberty.

N.B.: If you're in Illinois, be sure to attend the Defend Marriage Lobby Day and speak with your elected representatives.  Tell you Senator to vote "No" on SB10.

Oct. 23rd Defend Marriage Lobby Day in Illinois

In his homily during the Holy Mass yesterday morning, His Holiness Pope Francis spoke of the obligation of Catholics to participate in the political life, saying:

None of us can say, "I have nothing to do with this, they govern. . . ." No, no, I am responsible for their governance, and I have to do the best so that they govern well, and I have to do my best by participating in politics according to my ability. Politics, according to the Social Doctrine of the Church, is one of the highest forms of charity, because it serves the common good. I cannot wash my hands, eh? We all have to give something!

Each of us has a moral obligation to be involved in politics; we must not forget this!

With the return of the Illinois General Assembly October 22-24 and November 5-7, the possibility looms before us of the calling of Senate Bill 10, the "Nursing Home Care Act" to which an amendment has been added that would create the misnamed "Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act" (notice that it is not a bill in its own right).  SB 10 passed the Illinois Senate in the last session but did not have enough votes to be called to the floor of the House.

If you have forgotten how this amendment came to pass and how deceptive it is as proven by the passage of the so-called Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, please refresh your memory by catching up here.  Be sure to watch the questioning from Senator Righter to understand the danger this bill poses to religious liberty in Illinois.

While Senate Bill 10 is not presently being discussed in the open, there is every reason to believe that when it is called for a vote it will be done quickly and quietly so the Representatives and Senators will not be able to hear from their constituents.

With this in mind, the Catholic Conference of Illinois is sponsoring a "Defend Marriage Lobby Day" at the Capitol on October 23rd from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.  A similar day was held last February when more than 3,500 Illinois visited with their elected officials or their representatives to speak out against this proposed legislation.  Will you join their numbers in a few short weeks?  If you attended the day in February, I urge you to do so again.

The schedule for the day is as follows:

9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.     Prayer rally outside at the Lincoln statue

11 a.m. - 1 p.m.            Marriage rally in the Rotunda - Msgr. Carl Kemme, V.F. will speak.

1 p.m. - 3 p.m.             Prayer rally in the Rotunda

1 p.m.                            Jericho prayer walk around the Capitol from the Lincoln statue

All day                           Lobby your state representative

Please, mark this important day on your calendar and make every effort to attend.  Spread the word to your family and friends.  Let us defend authentic marriage and our religious liberty!