GOP Candidates Pushed on Religious Liberty Bill in South Carolina

A coalition of evangelicals and Catholics in South Carolina are pressing the presidential candidates to support a religious liberty bill that would protect Christians.

Backers say the First Amendment Defense Act would prevent the federal government from taking away the tax-exempt status of Christian schools and charities that believe in biblical marriage.

It would also protect government workers who hold traditional views.

"It basically says the federal government may not discriminate against you in any way, deprive you of equal access to any federal benefit, because you believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman or that sex is properly restricted to marriages so conceived," said Maggie Gallagher, a senior fellow with the American Principles Project.

The South Carolina Coalition for the First Amendment says Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Dr. Ben Carson have already signed on to support the act.

It says former Florida Gov., Jeb Bush and Donald Trump have also expressed support.