WASHINGTON – The White House indicated Tuesday that the president would veto a bill seeking to grant greater rights to homosexuals in the workplace if Congress passed it this week.
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(Photo: AP Images / Pablo Martinez Monsivais)President Bush waves after speaking at National Defense University's Distinguished Lecture Program during his visit to Eisenhower Hall Baruch Auditorium at Fort McNair in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007.
The Executive Office of the President issued a statement of administration policy expressing that the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, H.R. 3685, raises concerns on constitutional and policy grounds, and that his senior advisors would recommend President George W. Bush to veto the bill.
Concerned Women for America, a conservative public policy women’s organization, applauded the White House for signaling a likely veto of ENDA.
“This dangerous bill would pit the government directly against the free exercise of religion, a situation which is unconstitutional on its face,” said Matt Barber, CWA’s policy director for Cultural Issues.
“Members of Congress should join the president and exercise their sworn duty to defend the U.S. Constitution by voting ‘no’ on ENDA,” he added.
ENDA seeks to add sexual orientation to the list of federally protected classes – which includes race, color, religion, sex and national origin – that prohibits job discrimination.
Colin A. Hanna, founder and president of the conservative grassroots group Let Freedom Ring, pointed out that while the current legislation had some provisions exempting churches it would apply to Christian ministries and pro-family groups who are against the homosexual lifestyle.
An organization “whose entire focus” and “reason for being” is to promote a particular social view based on scripture would be forced to hire a person with a “diametrically opposing” view on the issue, Hanna contends.
“That is about as upside-down and about as perverted a reading as what the first amendment is about as I can imagine,” Hanna said at an ENDA press conference on Friday.
The White House agrees that the legislation is “inconsistent” with the right to free exercise of religion. It also highlighted that the bill’s wording is “imprecise” and subjective to interpretation that would make enforcement “extremely difficult,” such as establishing liability for “perceived” sexual orientation, or “association” with individuals of a particular sexual orientation.
“If passed, H.R. 3685 is virtually certain to encourage burdensome litigation beyond the cases that the bill is intended to reach,” the White House warned.
Some have raised questions on how human resource managers would apply the bill in the real world. They emphasized that someone can easily be identified as black, female or of a particular religion, but there is no way to identify someone’s sexual orientation besides a confession by the individual.
Under the legislation, homosexuals could sue their employer for firing them by claiming they were released due to their sexual orientation when their employer fired them because of poor job performance. It would be difficult for human resource managers to distinguish if a person was fired because of their poor performance or for their sexual identity.
“It (ENDA) is not needed. All that is needed is men and women to decide who they are and go to work everyday and do their job,” stated the Rev. Rick Scarborough who heads Vision America – a grassroots movement to restore Christian values in society.
Alliance Defense Fund president and general counsel Alan Sears thanked the White House for threatening to veto the “dangerous” and “blatantly unconstitutional” ENDA bill.
“We’re very thankful that the White House has recognized these constitutional issues and has advised the president to veto this legislation if it reaches his desk,” he said.
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to debate and vote on H.R. 3685 as early as Wednesday.
On the Web: Petition against Hate Crimes and ENDA Bills at FocusPetitions.org.
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Ummmm they just added that into King James. Yeah I tend not to trust that bible brand. Changes too much with politics. I find that it also changes things around and adds things in that were never in the bible to begin with such as they added homosexuals to Corinthians. I am afraid that I will have to stick to bibles with the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur (No Protestant bibles for me either). And yes, Jc4me, your perceptions of the bible ARE biased (even for a King James, which basically does all the bias itself :P). Anyone with ONE cent's worth of discernment could see that. However I do agree that this law should not be expanded to homosexuals. Not only could anyone claim that they were homosexual, but it is much trickier to fire a homosexual under this law because if you are Christian and fire someone who claims to be a homosexual... you are screwed.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (New King James Version)
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,[a] nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Footnotes:
1 Corinthians 6:9 That is, catamites
Amen and Amen Prophet.
Yes, jc4me, its just a short time before even speaking out against such things as homosexuality, transgenderism, tranasexualism will be considered a hate crime. The grip is slowly closing around Christianity's neck. But be joyful, or our blessed hope comes soon!
"By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greate than he who is in the world." First John 4:3-4
Peter 4
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us[a] in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime[b] in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
ifeelfine,
"You're making things up and it isn't Biblically based at all. Now you're interpreting the Word according to your biases and beliefs."
i am not interpreting the Bible based on biased viewes. Anyone with 2 cents of discernment would tell you that if a woman is being threatened to be killed or is being physically abused should run from her husband. God gives us common sense, obviously, you're not using yours. in addition, just because you don't agree with my answer, and with the bilbical basis for divorce if adultery is committed doesn't make it biblically unsound. Read my answer in context, and spin what I have written to suite your being "right about it". Search the scriptures for yourself, don't take my answer for it, or anyones on this site. furthermore, Canada is left leaning, and socialist in many ways. By the way, I never mentioned that Jesus was Socialist, or Capitalist, and neither do I believe he was one or the other. He just did everything according to God's Will, and did not try to twist it. Getting back to the origination of the thread which you tried to avoid, and talk your way out of by bringing in the question on divorce not just on this post, but others - homosexuality, divorce, adultery, and fornications are sins, whether you agree with it or not. they are also forgovable to those who repent. I don't pretend to have all the answers, but if you asked me, i gave you my response. rather than bickering over your "opinion" vs my "opinion" read the Word of God in it's entirety without taking out the parts you don't like.
jc4me - there may be a clause for adultry but not for violence or abuse. Also, the Bible doesn't say anything about the offended party not committing adultry if they remarry. You're making things up and it isn't Biblically based at all. Now you're interpreting the Word according to your biases and beliefs.
By the way, to call Canada "leftist" or "socialist" is absolutely ridiculous and isn't based in reality at all. What about making sure the sick are properly cared for makes a country socialist? If that makes a country socialist then Jesus was a socialist. For the record I don't think Jesus was a socialist but lets just say that he leaned more toward socialism than toward capitalism.
Telling people the whole thruth of God's Word is not hate as some would say on this blog. We need to get back to teaching the Word expositorilly, book by book, chapter by chapter, precept upon precept, line by line. There's too much "topical" sermons being preached which don't ground people in the Word.
Romans 1:16-20
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Romans 1:21-25
21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Romans 1: 26-32
26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Continued Scripture verses from God's Word:
Proponents of hate crimes legislation would just love to have pastor's incarcerated for preaching the Word of God on this matter. It's happening in Liberal/socialist Canada already.
I feel fine 72, I will try to lovingly respond to you. You're right, divorce is a sin, but it is forgivable just like the other's I listed. I also left out liars, cheaters, murderers, backbiters, and the list goes on, but since the blog is related to homosexuality, I obviously am going to respond to that which pertains to what the article is about. Do you read the Word of God? I would have to say that your quote: is only half true: "According to the Bible, anyone who gets remarried after having gone through a divorce is living in a constant state of adultry. Funny how no one wants to address that but is certainly interested in chastising those queers! What a bunch of phony hypocrites you are. "
The rest of the story that you had ommitted (possibly in error I presume) is that Jesus according to the Gospels in the Bible only allows for divorce when there is marital unfaithfulness (ie adultery) although, God's best is always reconciliation. So if a person did decide to forgive the husband/wife who committed the unfaithfulness, then that would definitely be more honoring to God. However, if because the pain was so great they could not bear it, and the person committing adultery is bent on continuing in their sin, then divorce is permissible, although it not God's best. Havig said that, God does allow for divorce in such an instance, and it would not constitute that the person hurt by the infidelity, (should they choose to divorce) that they be living in adultery if they choose to marry after the divorce.
However, yes, if a person who is faithfully married just decides to break the marriage for anything other than marital unfaithfulness, or lets say physical harm coming from physical abuse, or attempted murder, then yes, that person would be in adultery, and would be causing whomever they marry to be in adultery as well. But, if that person comes to a genuine repentance, then God can change their hearts ad make them a new person, and heal what was broken. Look at King David in the Old Testament. I just thought I'd clarify a little for you since it seems to me that nothing that is said on this site that is biblical truth is being taken in context by yourself as well as others who are constantly trying to disprove the Bible. No matter what we say, you will always have a pet peeve. I can only pray for you, that God himself will open the eyes of your heart.
To ifeelfine72:
Dear one, I never made the claim to know everything in the Bible. If I did, I would be a liar, and your judgement would be correct. But, I do know that He is God. And I do know that He is Holy. And I do know that if He says it, I can trust it.
You said "You clearly don't get it. Your faith isn't in God - its in a book.".
Beloved, They are one in the same. John, one who witnessed much, wrote of this, many times. His sole purpose for writing these things was to show that Jesus is who He claimed to be. His first book starts out with "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
In Revelation, John wrote, "He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God."
Dear one, one cannot separate that which cannot be separated. If one tries, one ends up with a god made in their image. This is a very dangerous path, and one that is unfortunately used often.
ifeelfine72,
Your right. Divorce is a sin, but just like homosexuality, it is a forgivable sin.