In the wake of the Supreme Court's creation of same-sex "marriage," Missouri voters will soon be given the opportunity to amend their state constitution to protect the religious liberty of citizens from attacks by the sexual revolutionaries. Senate Joint Resolution 39, passed 21-11 this morning, and is expected to pass the Missouri House, thus putting the measure to the voters.
UPDATE 3/16/16: 'Gay Marriage' Battle NOT Over in Some States
For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
West Virginia Legislature Passes Religious Freedom Restoration Act
North Carolina Lawmakers to Overturn Gay/Transgender Agenda
Indiana Religious Liberty Law (to fight Gay Agenda) Jettisoned by Republicans
Arkansas Religious Freedom Law NOT Gay Enough
Religious Liberty in Homosexualists' Crosshairs
Also read how Missouri voters brought prayer back to public schools.
-- From "39-Hour Filibuster Over Gay Marriage Issue Ends in Missouri Senate" by CBS News (KMOX) & The Associated Press 3/9/16
The measure comes after bakers and florists have faced legal challenges in other states for declining to provide services for same-sex weddings due to their religious beliefs.
“No one should be compelled to make a work with their own hands that’s offensive to their beliefs,” Republican sponsor Sen. Bob Onder said during earlier debate on the measure.
Democrats fought the measure for days, saying it would allow discrimination against same-sex couples and could hurt the state economy.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Missouri State Senators End Marathon Filibuster Over 'Religious Freedom' Bill" by Erik Ortiz and The Associated Press posted at NBC News 3/9/16
[Measure SRJ 39] proposes to amend the Missouri Constitution and prohibit the state from "penalizing clergy, religious organizations, and certain individuals for their religious beliefs concerning marriage between two people of the same sex."
Republican state Sen. Bob Onder, who sponsored the bill, said he believes the amendment "is entirely defensive, in that it prevents state and local governments from imposing penalties. It is a shield, not a sword."
Missouri's legislative session runs through mid-May, which leaves plenty of time for Resolution 39 to also move through the Republican-led House. It would then be submitted to statewide voters in either the August primary or November general election.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Epic Missouri Filibuster Over Bill Shielding Opponents Of Same-Sex Weddings Ends" by Merrit Kennedy, National Public Radio NPR 3/9/16
The proposed state constitutional amendment . . . states that clergy and places of worship would be protected should they decline to host or perform ceremonies and other services for same-sex couples because of their beliefs.
The measure would also shield vendors who refuse to provide services, and individuals who decline "to personally be a participant in a wedding or marriage."
St. Louis Public Radio says the bill sponsor argues it "would not harm the LGBT community or seek to revoke their right to marry."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Missouri 'religious freedom bill' passes as 39-hour filibuster ends" by Greg Botelho and Seth Kovar, CNN 3/9/16
Similar bills have come up in other states where Republicans hold sway, almost always bringing controversy with them. . . .
[However,] Missouri's legislation is different than most in that it involves amending the state's constitution and it has a narrow focus, according to its sponsor.
"We spent a lot of time writing it to avoid the controversies we've seen in other states," Republican Sen. Bob Onder said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Missouri Senate Filibusters Against Bill Protecting Opponents of Same-Sex Marriage" by Austin Huguelet And Richard Pérez-Peña, New York Times 3/8/16
. . . the Missouri bill, similar to one being considered in Georgia, would go further than any law now in place, prompting challenges that could keep the issue before the courts for years.
Donald Hinkle, the director of public policy for the Missouri Baptist Convention, which supports the measure, said he was confident of passage. “You’re talking about a state that voted 71 percent to 29 percent to say that marriage is between one man and one woman and put that in the Constitution,” he said, referring to a 2004 ballot measure banning same-sex marriage.
Twenty-one states — including Indiana and Arkansas last year — have enacted what backers call religious freedom laws [RFRA], which do not mention same-sex couples but subject discrimination lawsuits to tough scrutiny if the discrimination is based on a defendant’s sincere religious belief.
. . . But the bill would also protect any religious organization acting “in accordance with a sincere religious belief” about same-sex marriage, in a passage that does not limit itself to weddings. And it gives a long list of things that qualify as religious organizations, including schools, charities and retirement homes, as long as their public identity and purpose are “in whole or in part religious.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Supreme Court Justice Scalia Said Government Should Favor God of the Bible
