Catholic groups see clear religious-freedom violations in new local legislation for Washington, DC
February 09, 2015
Two new pieces of legislation passed by the city council in Washington, DC, pose special threats to Catholic institutions, the Catholic News Agency notes.
The Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act of 2014 and the Human Rights Amendment Act of 2014—both unanimously approved, and signed into law by Mayor Muriel Bowser—bar institutions in the nation’s capital from choosing or disciplining employees because of their involvement in, or promotion of abortion, sterilization, assisted fertilization, or homosexual activity. The Human Rights Amendment, in particular, specifically repeals an exemption that protected religious groups from being forced to hire employees who violate their religious principles.
A coalition of Catholic institutions and pro-life organizations has sent an appeal to Congress, calling for the nullification of the city statutes. The coalition cites the two new laws as “unprecedented assaults upon our organizations,” and clear violations of religious freedom.
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