from web site
January 14, 2014, The Digital Universe [BYU] Drawing the line between church and the state of Utah, by Mallory Jesperson,
The Utah State Capitol is shown Monday, Jan. 27, 2014, in Salt Lake City. Utah’s legislative session starts Monday after several busy months that saw the resignation and replacement of the state’s attorney general and the surprise legalization of gay marriage for 17 days. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee, introduced a new piece of legislation in Congress that, if passed, would protect institutions from religious discrimination and ensure that these establishments will not lose their tax-exempt status for refusing to perform same-sex ceremonies in support of traditional marriage.
As many same-sex couples in Utah rushed to the altar this December, after a U.S. judge declared the ban on same-sex nuptials illegal, many officials began to fear the detrimental ramifications to various religious institutions.
In response to this ruling, Lee created the "Marriage and Religious Freedom Act" and introduced it in the Senate. A similar bill has been proposed in the Utah Legislature.
After introducing this piece of legislation Lee, a Utah native and BYU alum, issued a news release in which he said, "This bill protects the rights of individuals and organizations from religious discrimination by the federal government."
Lee is the main proponent of this piece of legislation and, as such, has been interviewed by numerous news establishments, and has even made appearances on television to discuss the legislation.
The focus of this bill is to block the federal government from using its executive power to take away tax exemption privileges from religious institutions in an effort to force churches to perform these marriages. This bill's creation is a direct effort to strengthen the separation between church and state, according to Lee.
During his appearance on The Blaze TV, Lee said, "The government should have no say in what an individual or what a church might believe regarding the sanctity of marriage. … This is a decision to be made without the influence of government, particularly without the influence of the federal government. And so that's what we're trying to do here — keep the federal government at bay, and out of that decision-making process."
This effort to protect religious rights has gained momentum and support from many Republicans throughout the country.
U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., said on the Blaze, "Religious freedom is a foundational principle to our great nation, and it's something that Louisianians and folks across the country cherish — including the millions of Americans, like myself, who support traditional marriage. But, for a number of reasons, this basic freedom is under attack by the current administration. This bill will protect groups from administrative attacks, such as additional hurdles with taxes or obtaining federal grants or contracts."
However, opponents of this bill believe that by protecting religious institutions, they would be, in turn, allowing them to continue to discriminate against a whole community of persons.
Think Progress, a Liberal think-tank, reports that this bill's effect "could allow businesses to discriminate against employees with a same-sex spouse, government officials to discriminate against same-sex couples filing their taxes jointly or religiously affiliated hospitals discriminating against patients with same-sex spouses."
The "Marriage and Religious Freedom Act" would not only protect religious institutions from losing their tax-exemption status but would also include discretion upon providing employee benefit plans; as well as ensuring that no persons are excluded from receiving federal grants, licenses, loans employment etc. based on sexual orientation.
The bill states in section two, entitled, "Findings," "(3) Protecting religious freedom from Government intrusion is a Government interest of the highest order. Legislatively enacted measures advance this interest by remedying, deterring, and preventing Government interference with religious exercise in a way that complements the protections mandated by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States."
One issue accompanying the introduction of this proposed bill is that by guarding against religious discrimination, Congress may be allowing the ushering in of discrimination against same-sex couples.
This new piece of legislation already has 11 co-sponsors and is a companion bill to an act that was already proposed in September by members of Utah's House of Representatives.
Not only does this piece of legislation have support from various members of the Senate, but it is fully endorsed by groups such as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Concerned Women Form America, and the Liberty Counsel Action.
This bill has merely been introduced, and has yet been passed through the Senate or the House.
To read the full text of this piece of legislation, or to track the progress of its future, visit the United States Legislative Information website at http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th/senate-bill/1808.
christian louboutin sale
puma outlet
uggs outlet
nike shoes
yeezy boost
yeezy boost 350 v2
ralph lauren sale
michael kors outlet clearance
giuseppe zanotti shoes
lunette ray ban
cheap nfl jerseys
canada goose outlet
michael kors outlet
pandora outlet
coach outlet store
michael kors outlet
polo ralph lauren
michael kors outlet
ugg outlet stores
clarks outlet
valentino shoes
canada goose outlet store
canada goose
canada goose outlet
polo ralph lauren factory store
canada goose
ferragamo outlet store
longchamp handbags
canada goose uk
michael kors outlet online
uggs outlet online
ralph lauren
coach outlet online
canada goose jackets
oakley sunglasses
true religion
ugg outlet
canada goose outlet
oakley sunglasses
ralph lauren outlet
polo ralph lauren
coach factory outlet
michael kors outlet online
michael kors handbags sale
uggs outlet
cheap ugg boots
ugg outlet online
adidas shoes for men
polo ralph lauren
cheap mlb jerseys
canada goose jackets
ugg boots
michael kors outlet
canada goose outlet
ralph lauren
adidas outlet online
uggs outlet
oakley sunglasses wholesale
pandora charms
uggs outlet
coach outlet
polo ralph lauren outlet
canada goose outlet online
polo outlet
ugg outlet
coach outlet online
michael kors outlet
polo ralph lauren
michael kors outlet online
pandora outlet
cheap oakley sunglasses
nike outlet online
valentino outlet
michael kors handbags
coach outlet
oakley sunglasses
kate spade outlet store
canada goose jackets
canada goose jackets
kate spade handbags
polo ralph lauren outlet
coach outlet
canada goose jackets
christian louboutin sale
canada goose jackets
prada outlet store
true religion outlet
moncler jackets
ray ban sunglasses
cheap ugg boots
coach factory outlet
coach outlet online
ed hardy
canada goose jackets
oakley sunglasses
tory burch outlet online
mont blanc
canada goose jackets
cheap ray ban sunglasses
cheap uggs
ugg outlet online
polo ralph lauren outlet online
coach outlet online
fitflops clearance
canada goose outlet
ugg boots
ugg outlet
oakley sunglasses
nhl jerseys
cheap oakley sunglasses
polo ralph lauren
michael kors outlet clearance
oakley sunglasses outlet
kate spade outlet
true religion outlet store
fred perry polo
coach outlet online
cheap oakley sunglasses
pandora bracelet
canada goose
ralph lauren uk
canada goose
polo ralph lauren
polo ralph lauren
canada goose
uggs outlet
ray ban sunglasses
ugg outlet
michael kors outlet
nike shoes for men
cheap authentic nba jerseys
canada goose outlet
ugg outlet
fred perry polo shirts
canada goose outlet stores
ugg outlet
adidas yeezy boost
moncler outlet
ferragamo shoes
cheap ugg boots
cheap oakley sunglasses
michael kors outlet online
cheap uggs
fred perry
canada goose jackets sale
nfl jerseys
ralph lauren shirts
ugg outlet
polo outlet
oakley sunglasses
oakley sunglasses wholesale
clarks shoes
ugg outlet
michael kors outlet store
polo outlet stores
michael kors outlet online
longchamp outlet
fitflop sale
ray ban sunglasses
canada goose outlet
tory burch handbags
ferragamo shoes sale
uggs outlet
michael kors outlet online
canada goose outlet store
michael kors outlet
uggs outlet
ralph lauren shirts
michael kors outlet clearance
vintage nhl jerseys
cheap jordans
cheap ugg boots
michael kors outlet online
michael kors outlet clearance
canada goose outlet
polo outlet
nike air max 90
uggs on sale
ugg boots
michael kors outlet store
pandora charms
asics outlet
nike shoes
polo outlet
nike factory store
cheap ugg boots
kate spade outlet
canada goose outlet store
michael kors outlet online
mulberry handbags
polo ralph lauren outlet
canada goose jackets
ugg outlet
cheap nba jersey
ugg boots for women
coach outlet online
kate spade handbags
canada goose jackets
cheap ugg boots
coach outlet store online
asics running shoes
canada goose outlet
christian louboutin sale
ugg outlet
polo outlet
adidas superstar
michael kors outlet clearance
pandora charms
canada goose outlet
canada goose outlet store
kate spade outlet online
coach factory outlet
polo ralph lauren
michael kors handbags
nike trainers
kate spade bags
uggs outlet online
canada goose uk
cheap jordan shoes
canada goose
canada goose
cheap jordans for sale
nike air max
ray ban sunglasses outlet
michael kors outlet clearance
cheap ray bans sunglasses
nike outlet store
canada goose
michael kors outlet online
ralph lauren
michael kors outlet
pandora jewelry
moncler outlet
ralph lauren uk
uggs outlet
nike shoes
fitflops sale
canada goose outlet online
lacoste shoes
ugg outlet store
ugg outlet stores
christian louboutin uk
coach outlet online coach factory outlet
canada goose outlet store
cheap uggs
moncler outlet
canada goose jackets
cheap ugg boots
longchamp handbags
polo ralph lauren
adidas nmd r1
christian louboutin
true religion outlet online
oakley sunglasses wholesale
mont blanc outlet
ugg outlet
true religion jeans sale
coach outlet store online
polo ralph lauren outlet
true religion outlet store
ugg outlet
nmd adidas
coach outlet
ugg outlet
polo ralph lauren shirts
canada goose outlet online
canada goose
mlb jerseys wholesale
canada goose outlet
uggs outlet
ray ban sunglasses for men
cheap mlb jerseys
mont blanc
tory burch outlet stores
michael kors handbags
ralph lauren outlet
canada goose jackets
valentino shoes
cheap jordan shoes
ralph lauren outlet
nike outlet store
coach outlet
kate spade outlet store
mcm bag
polo ralph lauren sale
nike outlet
michael kors outlet
fred perry polo shirts
ralph lauren uk
coach outlet store online
canada goose jackets
pandora bracelet
uggs outlet
cheap ray ban sunglasses
oakley sunglasses wholesale
polo outlet
cheap ugg boots
canada goose
mulberry handbags
adidas yeezy shoes
canada goose outlet
hermes belts outlet
moncler outlet online
uggs outlet
cheap ugg boots
prada outlet online
pandora bracelet
canada goose outlet online
michael kors outlet
cheap jordans
adidas yeezy boost
canada goose outlet
canada goose jackets
ralph lauren
ralph lauren sale clearance
mont blanc pens
cheap jordans for sale
ugg boots
yeezy boost
uggs on sale
uggs outlet
michael kors
nike shoes
ugg outlet store
fitflops sale clearance
canada goose
michael kors outlet
kate spade outlet online store
ugg outlet store
canada goose outlet
ralph lauren outlet
coach outlet
cheap uggs
michael kors outlet online
uggs outlet
lacoste polo
cheap nhl jerseys
cheap uggs
coach factory outlet
polo ralph lauren
christian louboutin outlet
michael kors outlet
lebron james shoes
michael kors outlet
canada goose outlet
michael kors outlet online
fred perry polo
cheap nfl jerseys
coach factory outlet
mbt shoes clearance outlet
giuseppe zanotti outlet
yeezy shoes
christian louboutin shoes
ugg outlet store
uggs outlet
uggs outlet
michael kors outlet
puma shoes
christian louboutin shoes
coach outlet online
michael kors outlet
coach outlet online
air max 2017
michael kors outlet online
nike outlet store
mont blanc outlet
canada goose outlet
michael kors outlet clearance
ugg boots outlet
nike outlet store
lebron shoes
michael kors outlet
ugg outlet
christian louboutin outlet
canada goose outlet
michael kors outlet store
oakley sunglasses for men
cheap nfl jerseys
michael kors outlet clearance
hermes outlet
canada goose jackets
uggs outlet
pandora outlet
ralph lauren outlet
adidas yeezy shoes
coach factory outlet
coach outlet online
polo outlet
fitflops outlet
cheap jordans
ugg boots
coach outlet store online
coach outlet online
mont blanc outlet
ray ban sunglasses
canada goose outlet
canada goose uk
ugg boots on sale
canada goose outlet online
yeezy boost 350
canada goose jackets sale
mlb jerseys
cheap snapbacks
valentino outlet
canada goose
true religion outlet
mulberry outlet
mont blanc pens for sale
ugg outlet store
cheap jordan shoes
pandora jewelry outlet
ralph lauren uk
canada goose outlet
air jordan 4
coach outlet
coach factory outlet
ralph lauren
ray bans sunglasses outlet
canada goose outlet
adidas yeezy
michael kors outlet
polo ralph lauren
canada goose jackets
coach outlet
canada goose outlet store
nfl jerseys
michael kors outlet online
adidas nmd r1
pandora outlet online
nike outlet online
michael kors outlet
coach outlet
michael kors outlet online
pandora jewelry
cheap nike shoes
polo ralph lauren outlet online
coach outlet store online
kate spade outlet
ralph lauren outlet
canada goose
ugg sale
polo ralph lauren outlet
pandora rings
prada outlet stores
michael kors outlet
lacoste shirts
michael kors outlet
ralph lauren uk
air jordan shoes
coach factory outlet
cheap uggs
fred perry clothing
polo outlet
ugg boots outlet
michael kors outlet online
fred perry polo
kate spade purses
canada goose outlet online
ugg outlet online
canada goose jackets
nike shoes outlet
valentino outlet store
ugg boots
ugg sale
cheap oakley sunglasses
uggs outlet
canada goose jackets
polo ralph lauren
polo shirts
pandora jewelry
nike shoes outlet
cheap ugg boots
coach outlet online
polo ralph lauren outlet
ugg outlet store
coach outlet store online
longchamp
pandora outlet
pandora charms
uggs canada
uggs outlet
uggs canada
michael kors outlet
kate spade handbags
tory burch outlet
pandora rings
hermes birkin
air jordan retro
mcm outlet
ray ban sunglasses
canada goose outlet
pandora charms sale clearance
coach outlet online
canada goose outlet
pandora charms
ugg canada
polo shirts
michael kors outlet
uggs outlet
canada goose outlet
ugg outlet
coach outlet
pandora rings
polo outlet
polo ralph lauren
coach outlet online
mulberry bags
ralph lauren uk
mulberry outlet
coach outlet canada
ugg outlet
mbt shoes
nike outlet store
michael kors outlet online
polo ralph lauren outlet online
air jordan 4 retro
kate spade outlet
ray ban sunglasses outlet
fred perry outlet
michael kors outlet stores
nike shoes on sale
cheap ugg boots
coach outlet
ray ban pas cher
coach factory outlet
coach factory outlet
canada goose jackets
canada goose parka
ht
yeezy boost 350
pandora charms
toms outlet
ray ban sunglasses outlet
kate spade handbags
coach outlet canada
cheap jordan shoes
ralph lauren outlet online
moncler outlet online
pandora charms
valentino
cheap ugg boots
birkenstock shoes
polo ralph lauren outlet
canada goose jackets
coach outlet online
kate spade outlet online
ugg shoes
nike air max 2018
adidas nmd r1
michael kors outlet store
ralph lauren outlet online
fitflops sale clearance
coach outlet canada
moncler jackets
moncler outlet online
moncler jackets
coach factory outlet online
hermes bag
ralph lauren sale
cheap jerseys
longchamp bags
michael kors bags
coach outlet online
canada goose jackets
nike outlet store
ugg outlet online
ugg outlet
coach factory outlet online
mulberry
polo ralph lauren outlet
coach outlet online
nike outlet store online
bottes ugg
nike huarache shoes
uggs
adidas store
ugg outlet online
birkin handbags
uggs on sale
burberry uk
timberland outlet store
michael kors outlet store
discount oakley sunglasses
pandora charms outlet
ralph lauren outlet
ralph lauren outlet online
ray ban sunglasses discount
toms
canada goose coats
north face jackets
coach factory outlet
burberry outlet
pandora charms sale clearance
ugg boots outlet
burberry outlet online
canada goose outlet
pandora charms sale clearance
adidas ultra boost
pandora jewelry outlet
ralph lauren sale
nfl jerseys cheap
louis vuitton outlet store
birkenstock outlet store
cheap jordan shoes
coach factory outlet
ray ban sunglasses outlet
coach outlet online
adidas nmd runner
christian louboutin sale
ugg canada
michael kors outlet online
polo ralph lauren outlet
ralph lauren uk
gucci outlet online
ugg boots
michael kors uk
canada goose outlet
mlb jerseys
yeezy shoes
cheap ray ban sunglasses
fitflop sandals
ralph lauren outlet
coach outlet online
pandora charms sale clearance
birkenstock uk
adidas yeezy boost 350
cheap nfl jerseys wholesale
adidas outlet online
coach outlet online
adidas yeezy shoes
coach factory outlet online
louboutin shoes
ralph lauren uk
yeezy boost
cheap ugg sale
discount oakley sunglasses
coach outlet online
nfl jerseys
red bottom heels
coach handbags outlet
longchamps
ugg outlet
canada goose sale
nfl jerseys wholesale
ralph lauren
pandora charms
polo ralph lauren outlet
uggs outlet
ugg sale
ralph lauren outlet