California Senate Bill Passes Attacking Religious Liberties

News Release : May 30, 2013
Karen England – Capitol Resource Institute

The bill's sponsor, Senator Lara, reportedly resorts to coercion after claiming the Boy Scouts did not go far enough and demands that homosexual adults be allowed as leaders into the group.

(Sacramento, CA)—The following statement can be attributed to Karen England, Executive Director of Capitol Resource Institute, in response to the passage of Senate Bill 323 on the floor of the California State Senate.

Today the Senate passed SB 323, the bill revoking the tax exempt status of non-profit youth organizations, including private schools, should they not hire, or allow as leaders, persons whose sexual conduct is against the beliefs of such institutions.

Last week, the Boy Scouts of America compromised their constitutional right to choose who they may allow as members into the organization. The BSA council voted to allow homosexual boys into the membership but did not change the policy regarding homosexual adult members. Immediately after the vote was announced, Equality California released a statement rejecting the Scouts failure to embrace full equality.

Today the bill's author, Senator Lara, says the Scouts did not go far enough and demands that homosexual adults be allowed as leaders into the youth group and seeks to use the coercive power of government by revoking the tax-exempt status of any non-profit youth organization that does not comply with his views.

Senator Lara did not speak for us all today when he claimed SB 323 brings our laws in line with our values. This bill is about government vilifying our values and abusing its power to penalize, through taxation, those who hold different beliefs and values. SB 323 is an unprecedented intrusion by the government and a far-reaching assault on freedoms of association, speech, and religion.