Gov. Nathan Deal’s veto heard ‘round the world last week has only bought Georgia a bit of time. It’s up to all of us to make the most of a cooling-off period.
For it’s certain that the divisive issue of religious liberty has not gone away, nor even underground. Georgia won’t be done that easily with this debate over which cherished right can trump another.
Rather, the topic will simmer along – and boil over at times — until the General Assembly is next gaveled to order. That’s a reality of our spectacularly acrimonious age
Gov. Deal’s courage has given us another chance to resolve things. We highly commend him for acting quickly after Legislative Sine Die to announce his veto of House Bill 757, officially the “Free Exercise Protection Act.”
Deal was spot-on correct in vetoing H.B. 757. It unnecessarily – and unacceptably — raised the specter of unlawful discrimination robed in freedom of religion. Given the historic failures at times in that regard of both the Southeast and the nation that surrounds it, such a risk should be anathema to freedom-loving people. The past’s bloody lessons should keep us from stumbling once more down a destructive path.
In our view, the bill passed by the Georgia Legislature could also have been named the “Ravage Georgia’s Economy Act.” That would have been the effect of enacting legislation so substantially opposed – for sound reasons — by so many businesses and civic groups.
In the days ahead, Georgians and our lawmakers will again be considering the juxtaposition of religious freedom and secular rights within a free, pluralistic society.
Yes, the Constitution – rightly — guarantees freedom of religion. An individual’s relationship with their God is worthy of strong, broad safeguards.
The clash comes in where faith-based beliefs spill into the civil commons – or threaten rights of others. There are sound reasons why separation of church and state has historically been held in high regard. They still hold true.
Much of the heat in the current debate has been fueled by the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of same-sex civil marriage. Many religions understandably condemned it as antithetical to their faith. Which is their right.
Yet, the religious aspect of marriage remains steadfastly within the province and control of faith leaders. The First Amendment is abundantly clear there. Ministers, priests, rabbis, imams and whomever else of any religion or creed are as free as ever to say nay – or yea – to any couple of any kind requesting their nuptial services. Which is precisely how it should be.
Conversely, same-sex couples should not be subjected to unlawful discrimination in the civic sphere. The same Constitution’s guarantees of freedom, liberty and choice must apply equally to all, regardless of sexual orientation.
We agree with conservative activist and one-time talk show host Montel Williams, who last week supported Gov. Deal’s veto. He wrote that, “Remember, we aren’t talking about a Church’s, or minister’s, or individual’s right to his or her own personal beliefs. We are talking about behavior in civil society. To that effect, HB 757 would’ve been a slippery slope – that’s why such a wide and varied coalition of business leaders continue to take such a strong stand on this issue.”
His words remind us of Jesus’ warning to the judgmental in the Book of Matthew, “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thy own eye.”
That admonition to “Judge not, that ye be not judged” should be remembered when religious liberty again bubbles to the top of public debate. Since further angst, anger and maneuvering is inevitable, we’d offer the following as a possible path forward.
Given the Georgia General Assembly’s great passion for study committees on most any issue, we’d suggest that they should convene a group to ascertain precisely who is at grave risk of having their liberty – religious or civil – unconstitutionally threatened by civil acceptance of same-sex marriage. Lawmakers should resolve to hear from both evangelicals and LGBT advocates.
The goal must be to plainly pursue the real reasons surrounding the ongoing, anger- and fear-fueled rush to ram through legislation redundantly accessorizing a freedom already welded firmly into the U.S. Constitution.
Hopefully through such hearings, the real sentiments, fears and, yes, prejudices powering HB 757 can be pulled to the surface and seen for what they are. And adequately dealt with once and for all — so that Georgia can move on.
The world will be watching in days to come. And people of influence will be comparing our actions with previous times when Georgia and the South landed on the wrong – and losing – side of history by yielding to discriminatory passions of the day.
We should not do so again.
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