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House Hears Testimony on Threats to Religious Freedom

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Religious Liberty took center stage before the House Judiciary Sub Committee Thursday when members of Congress joined religious leaders to examine the current threats to religious liberty in America. 

"Non-discrimination laws intended to protect religious persons are now used to stigmatize religious persons because they wish to live according to their deeply held religious beliefs," said Kim Colby, Director of Christian Legal Society's Center for Law and Religious Freedom.

The speakers outlined how Government must provide the same legal protection to religious groups that it does with secular groups. 

"It is especially painful for me that in our own nation a limited number of core issues of religious freedom so divide us," said Rabbi David Saperstein, the U.S. Ambassador for Religious Freedom.

The panel also talked about the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits tax-exempt organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates. President Trump has indicated that he not only wants to repeal it, but totally destroy it. 

"Religious Freedom is my judgement the cornerstone of all other freedoms," said Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ). 

The group also addressed the case of the 72-year-old Washington florist who is now headed to the U.S. Supreme Court after she refused to provide services for a same-sex wedding. Baronelle Stutzman maintains she was exercising her First Amendment rights when she refused to provide flowers for a gay wedding because it goes against her Christian beliefs. 

"Since when did we decide it was okay for the Government to personally and professionally destroy someone because of their beliefs, this should frighten all of us," said Casey Mattox, Alliance Defending Freedom's Center for Academic Freedom

Mattox told the House Judiciary Sub Committee that everyone should be able to express their religious views without government coercion. 

"Where there is religious persecution and religious freedom is not allowed all kinds of tragic things happen, said Congressman Franks (R-AZ). 

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About The Author

Ben
Kennedy

Ben Kennedy is an Emmy Award-winning White House correspondent for CBN News in Washington, D.C. He has more than a decade of reporting experience covering breaking news nationwide. He's traveled cross country covering the President and scored exclusive interviews with lawmakers and White House officials. Kennedy spent seven years reporting for WPLG, the ABC affiliate in Miami, Florida. While there he reported live from Kingston, Jamaica, as Hurricane Matthew hit the island. He was the first journalist to interview Diana Nyad moments after her historic swim from Cuba to Key West. He reported