ENDA the Silence: Bishops Defend Marriage, Freedom

Anti - discrimination laws are being used to undermine the right of individuals, as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, to associate freely, to teach and speak the truth about homosexuality, and employers' rights to "act consistent with that truth" according to religious liberty.

NASHVILLE, TN (Catholic Online) - In a letter to congress that plants them solidly and formally against the so called Federal Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA), the USCCB has emphatically spoken out in defense of religious liberty and true marriage, stating that they "cannot maintain the position of neutrality [they] held in 2007." Their new stance is due to specific, strategic changes in the legislation.

What is ENDA?

ENDA is the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a proposed bill in the United States Congress that would ostensibly simply prohibit discrimination against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The bishops indicated, however, their awareness of previous LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) legal strategy and success in using similar state antidiscrimination laws as a basis for imposing a constitutional right to same-sex "marriage" on the state level.

It is the publicly stated intention of gay activists to secure passage of sexual orientation antidiscrimination laws first, such as ENDA, and then, after that necessary legal groundwork has been laid, to invoke the legal principle inherent in the antidiscrimination laws as a basis for same-sex "marriage." This approach has proven to work dramatically.

A federal antidiscrimination law specifically written to include gender identity and sexual orientation guarantees a federal constitutional right to same-sex "marriage," thereby striking down all state laws to the contrary by the imposition of federal mandate.

ENDA the Silence

The bishops demonstrated their discernment and understanding of both the tactic, and the widespread ramifications: "If this strategy were to succeed, it would represent a legal and moral disaster comparable in many ways to Roe v. Wade. As leaders of the Catholic Church, we have a moral obligation to oppose any law that would clearly contribute to this outcome."

They were also mindful that current religious exemptions for the Church in similar circumstances do not necessarily preclude government retaliation or the "threat of government sanction," as "recent experience" indicates. Therefore similar exemptions in the case of ENDA legislation as it is currently written would not mitigate USCCB opposition.

Pointedly, they mentioned how antidiscrimination laws like ENDA are being used everywhere to abolish the right of individuals, as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, to associate freely, to teach and speak the truth about homosexuality, and employers' rights to "act consistent with that truth" according to religious liberty.

ENDA has been presented in congress since 1994 without sexual identity protections, but now, emboldened by a democratic majority and president, a special sexual identity inclusion was introduced to ENDA by House representative Barney Frank.

President Barack Obama also lustily supports the bill's passage, trumpeting recent, unprecedented homosexual legislative victories in partnership with a democratic congress, outlining new ones to come, and calling all Americans, you, to observe June 2010 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, a status conferred "by virtue of the authority vested in him by the Constitution and the laws of the United States" through formal proclamation.

The Truth in Love

While the USCCB vehemently opposes unjust discrimination against people with a homosexual inclination, it opposes any bill, their letter said, such as the current ENDA bill, that would legally affirm and specially protect any sexual conduct outside of marriage.

The bishops specified an important distinction between homosexual actions and inclination, and explained the difference both make in the body social: "While the Church is ardently opposed to all unjust discrimination on the grounds of sexual inclination, whether homosexual or heterosexual, it does teach that all sexual acts outside of a marriage between one man and one woman are morally wrong" (author's emphasis).

In this way, the bishops stipulated directly that only lasting heterosexual marriage serves the good of society, not divorce, remarriage, homosexual "marriage," or any extra-marital sexual conduct. This stipulation is contrary to criticism that the bishops "attack" homosexuals and ignore divorce or other marital or extra-marital sins.

Still, no good deed goes unpunished, they say, and the bishops' authority and duty to teach and lead certainly means nothing to some: "The US bishops, in their continuing determination to force their view of family on everybody else, ask for special treatment under the law - or no protection from discrimination for a group most grievously discriminated against," a detractor complained.

The bishops, however, had strong words for those, Catholic or otherwise, who would victimize homosexuals: "We recognize that no one should be an object of scorn, hatred, or violence for any reason, including sexual inclination." Based on their inherent dignity as persons "created in the image and likeness of God" they "must be acknowledged and respected, by other persons and by law."
 
By virtue of their position in Christ, exercising their leadership and teaching authority, we Catholics are bound by the Lord Himself to give heed and careful consideration to the bishops' teaching. Pray tell, what else does it mean to be Catholic?

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Sonja Corbitt is a Catholic speaker, Scripture teacher and study author, and a contributing writer for Catholic Online. She is available to speak on the New Feminism, current events and your preferred theme. Visit her at www.pursuingthesummit.com for information and sample videos, or www.pursuingthesummit.blogspot.com.

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