Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act - Resources for Citizens

This post collates resources relevant to the Oklahoma version of the Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act, legislation originally formulated and passed in Texas.

The current versions of the bill may be found on the legislature's website: HB1456, SB1142. We will be tracking these throughout the legislative session. You can do so yourself by reading the history of the bill, which indicates which step in the legislative process they are currently on, for example, the house bill is currently in the rules committee.

Here are the talking points discussing why these bills are problematic, in a single page, from Americans United. Here are a few of my thoughts on the bill, on my blog at Skeptic Ink. Finally, for a scholarly long read packed with in-depth analysis, check out this article from the UC Davis Law Review.

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Fifth Annual Legislative Preview

Oklahoma City chapter of

Americans United for Separation of Church & State

www.okau.org, www.au.org

Fifth Annual Legislative Preview

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Belle Isle Public Library, 5501 N. Villa

10:00am to noon

Crossing the Line

Introduction

Guest speakers--

Rev. Jim Shields: brief overview of church/state separation in Methodist history.

Jim Huff: brief overview of church/state separation in Southern Baptist history.

Dr. Victor Hutchison: brief look at 2014 proposed legislation affecting science education in public schools.

Apocalyptic Fantasy in Government –-

John Loghry, chapter president, brief remarks concerning religion and government

Repointing Jefferson's Wall--

James Nimmo: brief summary of Bishop v. USA—Federal District Judge Terence Kern's ruling concerning marriage equality in Oklahoma.

Selected discussion of proposed bills--

Chas Stewart, chapter secretary: "School employee religious liberty act", HB 2675.

Damion Reinhardt, chapter treasurer: “Religious Viewpoints Anti-discrimination Act”,

HB 1456, 1040, 2422; SB 1142

Q & A

Useful Websites and Links

http://www.oklegislature.gov/

Oklahoma Legislature

http://www.interfaithalliance.org/equality/read

Same-Gender Marriage and Religious Freedom

http://okpolicy.org/

Oklahoma Policy Prostitute

www.au.org

Americans United for Separation of Church & State

www.okau.org

Oklahoma City chapter of Americans United

http://gaycitynews.com/us-judge-throws-oklahoma-marriage amendment-stays-ruling-pending-appeal/

http://tinyurl.com/m852ymg

Good analysis of Tulsa Judge Kern's marriage equality ruling

http://ryangrantlong.blogspot.com/2011/01/marriage-in-bible.html

Chart describing Biblical history of marriage

courtesy of Ryan Long

(click on the image for a larger view)

Debate Between a Bible Thumper and a Model Citizen

Debate Between a Bible Thumper and a Model Citizen

Here's the streaming video link to the Flashpoint debate between Scott Hamilton of Cimarron Alliance, and Sally Kern, leader of the homo-hater brigade. Watching the video is really better because then you can back it up to listen yet again to Kern make the most unbelievable calumnies against our gay-lesbian citizenship---you won't believe your ears the first time.

I congratulate Scott for his use of the facts to prove Kern is using her religious prejudice to frame the civil laws of Oklahoma against us.  I think dueling bible verses is not the proper defense against the Kern Kult.  The issue is not whether any religion endorses marriage equality--each Christian denomination has differing dogma even about its founder.  The main point should always be made that anyone's exercise of the civil right of marriage--founded in the First Amendment's right of association--is NOT based on a religious ceremony.

http://kfor.com/2014/01/19/sunday-flashpoint-kevin-ogle-talks-same-sex-marriage-with-guests-sally-kern-scott-hamilton/

Additional information concerning the Legislative Preview--2014

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma City Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church & State (OKC-AU) will hold its fifth annual Oklahoma Legislative Preview on Saturday, January 25, 2014. The event titled, “Crossing the Line” will be held at the Belle Isle Library, 10 a.m. to noon, 5501 N. Villa in Oklahoma City. 

The Preview will include a review of selected proposed bills that OKC-AU feels cross the line between religious point of view and civil rights as defined in our state and federal constitutions.

A brief explanation of how proposed bills become law in Oklahoma will also be presented.

Three featured speakers will outline the history of their respective religious denominations.

Guest speaker Dr. Victor H. Hutchison, George Lynn Cross Research Professor Emeritus, Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, will discuss proposed bills involving religion and science education.

Featured speaker Rev. Jim Shields of Oklahoma City, one of the founding members of the Oklahoma City chapter of Americans United, will be outlining the history of church/state separation in the Methodist tradition.

Jim Huff, a Deacon and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, will be speaking about the Baptist history of separation of church and state.

This event previews bills submitted by both Houses of the Oklahoma Legislature that could interfere with First Amendment freedom of religion and could encumber the rights of others. The audience is invited to participate in a Q & A period and a civil open discussion.

James Nimmo, OKC-AU communication chair, said, “This year's theme, Crossing the Line, reflects the intent that some bills introduced during this year's legislative session violate the Constitutional separation of religious views from civil laws.  

“Religious observance is free for all to exercise in private with other like-minded people,” Nimmo added. “However, when tax money, public property or the legal power of the state is used to support religious views that are not shared by others, it crosses the line of legality.”

The first regular session of the 55th Oklahoma Legislature officially convenes on Monday, February 3, 2014 at 12 p.m.

OKAU President John Loghry said, “Our society is meant to have many voices, but much of this legislation seems to be aimed at keeping those that are not evangelical from having equal footing in the conversation."

The Oklahoma City Chapter, one of the most active chapters of American United for Separation of Church and State, arranges this event so that Oklahoma citizens can read and discuss upcoming issues and be ahead of the inevitable curves thrown by those who might diminish a valuable freedom not observed in much of the world.

All interested citizens are encouraged to attend and participate with questions and comments. Light refreshments will be served. 

Americans United (AU) is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to preserving the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure religious freedom for all Americans. AU represents over 70,000 individual members and 5,000 churches and other houses of worship nationwide.

For more information about the Legislative Preview or the Oklahoma City Chapter of Americans for Separation of Church and State, please visit www.okau.org or contact James Nimmo at 405-843-3651. 

Legislative Preview: Save the Date: Saturday, January 25, 2014,

Save the Date:

Saturday, January 25, 2014, 10:00am to noon, Belle Isle Library,  5501 N. Villa, OKC.

OKC chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State

We have invited two speakers to outline the history of their respective denominations.

Then the review of selected proposed bills that we feel cross the line between religious POV and civil rights as defined in our state and federal constitutions.

Q & A from audience.

Free to the public.

Theme:  Crossing the Line in the Sand

Hindus want space for Lordly monument on Okie Capitol Grounds

Hindus want space for Lordly monument on Okie Capitol Grounds

The current 10-commandment monument might be getting some company.

One of the self-serving arguments the flat-earthers used to justify their religious zeal was that the public grounds were going to be developed into a historical park.  Now they can put up or shut up. I love the impending circus.

http://www.albanytribune.com/10122013-hindus-interested-erecting-lord-hanuman-statue-oklahoma-capitol-grounds%E2%80%8F/v

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/08/opinion/sunday/the-bible-as-bludgeon.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0

The Bible as Bludgeon

clip  YOU can make a successful run for political office in this country without an especially thick résumé, any exceptional talent for expressing yourself, a noteworthy education or, for that matter, a basic grasp of science.

But you better have religion. You better be ready to profess your faith in and fealty to God — the Judeo-Christian one, of course. And you better be convincing. A dust-up last week in the 2014 race for a United States Senate seat from Arkansas provided a sad reminder of this, showing once again that our ballyhooed separation of church and state is less canyon than itty-bitty crack.   

complete at:  

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/08/opinion/sunday/the-bible-as-bludgeon.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0  

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AU Urges IRS To Step Up Investigations Of Church-Based Partisan Politicking

Church-State Watchdog Says Tax Agency Must Enforce Rules Intended To Prevent Houses Of Worship From Intervening In Elections

Dec 4, 2013

It’s time for the IRS to crack down on illegal partisan politicking by churches, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

In a letter sent today to IRS Acting Commissioner Daniel Werfel, Americans United noted that the IRS recently announced proposed tightened rules governing 501(c)(4) organizations. While this is a complex area of tax law, the question of church-based electioneering requires a much simpler fix.

“The law says houses of worship that choose to engage in politics are risking their tax exemption,” said Americans United Executive Director the Rev. Barry W. Lynn. “But that law is meaningless if the IRS fails to enforce it. Without some teeth, the regulation might as well not exist.”

Houses of worship are tax exempt as 501(c)(3) organizations. Under federal law, groups holding the (c)(3) status are strictly prohibited from intervening in elections; they may not advise congregants or members to vote for or against specific candidates.

The IRS, however, has done little to enforce the law. Part of the problem stems from a 2008 federal court ruling involving a Minnesota church that successfully challenged the IRS’s procedures for investigating churches.

In U.S. v. Living Word Christian Center, a court said the IRS could not audit the church because it had not designated the proper IRS official for initiating such an audit. The IRS subsequently announced that it would issue new rules to deal with the problem, but more than five years later, little has been done.
In 2009 the IRS issued a proposal to update its church audit procedures in accordance with the court ruling, but it never released a final set of rules. Since then, experts believe no churches have been investigated for improper campaign intervention despite numerous reported violations.

In today’s letter to Werfel, AU’s Lynn noted that the tax agency is revamping rules for political activity by 501(c)(4) “social welfare” groups, a task most observers believe will be controversial and complicated. By contrast, clarifying audit procedures for churches requires a simple fix of adding a few sentences to existing IRS regulations.

Lynn urged that the final rule be adopted and that enforcement begin.

“My purpose in writing today is to request that the IRS finalize these regulations, publicize them and begin enforcing the law,” wrote Lynn. “As you know, our nation is approaching mid-term elections; I believe it would be detrimental for our country and the democratic process to go through another election cycle with the ‘no-politicking’ rule unenforced. The more the IRS delays, the more some pastors conclude that they do not have to abide by this law.”

Americans United pointed out in its letter that it has sent 124 complaints to the IRS about church politicking since 1992, but to AU’s knowledge just one of those churches lost its tax-exempt status. As a result, Religious Right groups have been encouraging pastors to dive head first into partisan politics – with little fear of consequences.

“We’ve done our part by telling the IRS when churches defy federal law,” Lynn said. “Now it’s time for the IRS to act on our complaints.”

Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

https://au.org/media/press-releases/americans-united-urges-irs-to-step-up-investigations-of-church-based-partisan

Q and A for SCOTUS: What if business gets religion, what if they don't believe in medicine at all?

Q and A for SCOTUS: What if business gets religion, what if they don't believe in medicine at all?

http://www.rawstory.com/.../the-hobby-lobby-lawsuit-is-a.../

The Hobby Lobby Lawsuit Is A Trojan Horse | The Raw Story
rawstory.com
You have to hand to right wing pundits. They kick ass at the bait-and-switch, particularly with their own people. They knew that throwing a major fit over the contraception mandate, no matter how much it’s dressed up in “religious freedom” as an excuse, would be understood by their followers as an a...

The Hobby Lobby Lawsuit Is A Trojan Horse | The Raw Story

www.rawstory.comYou have to hand to right wing pundits. They kick ass at the bait-and-switch, pa...

The Religious Right wants to redefine what “religious freedom” means in this country.

The Religious Right wants to redefine what “religious freedom” means in this country. These powerful factions are working around the clock because they want to run your life according to their rules. They claim that “religious freedom” means they have the right to ignore all sorts of laws they don’t like, no matter the consequences, and to force you to live by their religion's rules! That’s something I just won’t stand for. I value true religious freedom, which means the right to believe and worship — or not — as I see fit. It doesn't include using the law to promote a religious viewpoint or position.  I hope you feel the same way.

If you agree with me about what religious freedom really means, please make a donation to Americans United today.

We can’t stop these powerful sectarian groups without your sustained financial support, and they aren’t going down without a fight. Sectarian interests want to regulate your access to health care.  Under the Affordable Care Act, most employers are expected to offer healthcare policies that allow employees to access no-cost birth control.  Right now, dozens of cases brought by the Catholic and evangelical owners of secular, for-profit corporations are before federal appeals courts. These organizations have no religious purpose whatsoever, but they think they have the right to deny their employees access to birth control options.  Today, the US Supreme Court announced that it will hear two of these cases next Spring!  Americans United has filed thirteen amicus briefs against this Religious Right ploy to control people's lives - and we must now step up our efforts to defend true religious freedom! Radical religious groups are strategizing how to take away your rights.  Last month, several major Religious Right groups gathered in Washington for an annual meeting, the so-called “Values Voter Summit.”  It’s sponsored by the Family Research Council, which has a budget of around $17 millon; the American Family Association, which raised over $18 million in a recent year; and Liberty Counsel, which is part of the $628-million Jerry Falwell, Jr. empire.  With all of that money and power backing the event, it’s anything but some insignificant meeting of fringe extremists.  Instead, it’s an opportunity for about 3,000 Religious Right supporters from around the country to come together so they can figure out how to spread their radical agenda. With your help, Americans United will resist all of the threats to religious liberty from the Religious Right and Catholic hierarchy — whether in the courts, in legislatures, at the local level or in the public arena — and push back when they go too far. We can’t fight alone against those who yearn to use government power to impose their narrow theology onto you.  Please donate to Americans United today! www,au.org