The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on legislation Thursday that could pave the way for religious persecution.
The "hate-crimes" bill, being considered as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill, would create a new class of crimes based on a victim's "actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity." And, pastors who preach against homosexuality could end up prosecuted if they are found to have "induced" a hate-crime against a self-identified homosexual by preaching from the Bible.
Ashley Horne, federal issues analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said similar laws have been used to prosecute religious speech in the U.S. at the state level and abroad.
"Gay activists have and will continue to use these kinds of laws to silence Christians who speak publicly about God's design for human sexuality – and make them pay if they stand up for their beliefs," she said.
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said he plans to offer the legislation "to address the serious and growing problem of hate crimes." But Horne said Leahy doesn't have accurate information.
"The latest numbers from the FBI from 2007 show us there's no dramatic increase in hate crimes across the country – and, specifically, no dramatic increase over the years in sexual-orientation hate crimes, either in raw numbers or percentages," Horne said. "So, this bill is a solution looking for a problem."
Horne said there are probably enough votes in the Senate to pass the bill, and is encouraging Christians everywhere to stop and pray that the Lord would intervene.
CALL TO ACTION
Call your senators immediately and ask them to vote NO on the hate-crimes amendment that will be attached to the Defense Authorization bill.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Learn more about Hate Crimes.
