Trump Administration Brings Clarity on Religious Orgs and Federal Contracting
Aug 23, 2019
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, a division of the Department of Labor, is proposing a rule change that would protect the religious liberty of faith-based organizations when contracting with the federal government.
Faith-based organizations have been reluctant to participate as federal contractors due to confusion over the scope of the religious exemption. Many religious organizations contend that hiring those engaged in the homosexual lifestyle is in conflict with their religious beliefs and is inconsistent with their mission, but the LGBT community believes this is discriminatory, a supposed violation of their “civil rights.”
The proposed rule, based on portions of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, points to U.S. Supreme Court rulings in favor of religious liberty, including Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer, and Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores.
If adopted, the rule would reverse an Obama-era executive order and allow religious organizations to take a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity into consideration when making employment decisions. The proposed rule is open for public comment until September 16.
Trump rule to nix Obama order forcing religious contractors to hire LGBT workers
LifeSiteNews
Labor Department Rule Broadens Religious Protections in Federal Contracting
Daily Signal
Labor Dept.: Federal contractors have freedom to operate according to religious beliefs
Alliance Defending Freedom
Executive Order 11246 — Equal Employment Opportunity
U.S. Department of Labor
NOTE: FACT provides links to external websites for educational purposes only. The inclusion of any links to other websites does not necessarily constitute an endorsement.
Faith-based organizations have been reluctant to participate as federal contractors due to confusion over the scope of the religious exemption. Many religious organizations contend that hiring those engaged in the homosexual lifestyle is in conflict with their religious beliefs and is inconsistent with their mission, but the LGBT community believes this is discriminatory, a supposed violation of their “civil rights.”
The proposed rule, based on portions of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, points to U.S. Supreme Court rulings in favor of religious liberty, including Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer, and Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores.
If adopted, the rule would reverse an Obama-era executive order and allow religious organizations to take a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity into consideration when making employment decisions. The proposed rule is open for public comment until September 16.
News Sources
Trump rule to nix Obama order forcing religious contractors to hire LGBT workers LifeSiteNews
Labor Department Rule Broadens Religious Protections in Federal Contracting
Daily Signal
Labor Dept.: Federal contractors have freedom to operate according to religious beliefs
Alliance Defending Freedom
Executive Order 11246 — Equal Employment Opportunity
U.S. Department of Labor
NOTE: FACT provides links to external websites for educational purposes only. The inclusion of any links to other websites does not necessarily constitute an endorsement.
