Losing Religious Liberty is the “Price of Citizenship”

Supreme Court Refuses Appeal in Christian Photography Case

This week, the U.S Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal in the Elane Photography case. The case concerns a Christian photographer who was told by the New Mexico Supreme Court that she must use her gifts and talents to affirm and participate in a same-sex ‘commitment ceremony’ that she disagrees with or face punishment by the state. According to one of the justices in the New Mexico Supreme Court ruling, photographers are now “compelled by law to compromise the very religious beliefs that inspire their lives.” According to the justice, sacrificing your free expression and freedom of religion are now the “the price of citizenship.”

A government that can force a private individual or business to participate in a ceremony that directly violates their faith is a government that has no bounds on its power. We must never let our First Freedoms of religion and free expression become the “price of citizenship” in Texas.  That is why we have led efforts to support the Texas Religious Freedom Amendment in past legislative sessions that would secure strong religious liberty protection directly in the Texas Constitution. Read more.

Mozilla: Support Marriage, Lose Your Job

Mozilla CEO, Brendan Eich, became the latest trophy of the totalitarian homosexual activists when he resigned from the corporation he helped found (Mozilla is the company behind the Firefox web browser).  Eich came under tremendous attack because he gave $1,000 in support of the California marriage amendment, Proposition 8, which passed in 2008. Mozilla Executive Chairwoman Mitchell Baker wrote in response to his resignation, “Mozilla prides itself on being held to a different standard and, this past week, we didn’t live up to it. We know why people are hurt and angry, and they are right: it’s because we haven’t stayed true to ourselves…We didn’t move fast enough to engage with people once the controversy started. We’re sorry. We must do better.”

Focus on the Family’s Jeff Johnston noted the irony in the situation: “I really hope that LGBT-identified folks and their so-called ‘progressive’ allies appreciate the irony: The ‘tolerance, diversity and inclusivity’ crowd doesn’t tolerate anyone who believes differently. If you think marriage is between one man and one woman, you are excluded. That kind of ‘diversity’ will not be tolerated.” Read more.

Commit to Pray for Religious Liberty

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood cases opposing Obamacare’s HHS mandate that forces businesses to pay for abortion-causing drugs for their employees regardless of the owner’s religious beliefs. Hobby Lobby seeks to operate its business in accordance with Christian principals, but under the HHS mandate it is now being forced to violate its beliefs or risk millions of dollars in fines. Please sign our petition in support of Hobby Lobby and commit to pray.

“Irreplaceable” One-Night Event

Does family still matter in today’s society? On May 6, Focus on the Family will be presenting a new documentary seeking to answer this question. The film will explore why we all yearn to be a part of a family and the causes for family breakdown that are so prevalent in society today. This one-night event will be in theaters nationwide and would be a great event for churches and bible study groups. Get more details at www.irreplaceablethemovie.com.

 

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