News
Opposing views on religious freedom from faith community
J. Robert White, exec. dir. of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, says RFRA is the most important piece of legislation lawmakers could pass this session
With eight bills filed under the Gold Dome dealing with religious freedom, dueling members of the faith community are letting their voices be heard.
The Georgia Baptist Mission Board, which celebrated Pastors Day at the Capitol Tuesday, held a news conference in support of the various pieces of legislation but specifically asked that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act or RFRA be passed.
“We want the protection of religious people in Georgia from being discriminated against. We all want to be able to express our freedom,” says J. Robert White, executive director of the board.
The group gave examples of a threatned lawsuit over a mass baptism at Villa Rica High School and a statue with scripture that caused controversy at Madison County High School.
But other clergy members held their own news conference right afterwards saying the measure will only promote discrimination against the LGBT community.
“This legislation is like sending a bazooka after a fly; it’s going to cause much more damage than any ills it could possibly cure,” says Rabbi Joshua Heller of Congregation B’nai Torah.
So far only one of the bills has had a hearing this session.
