New law targets faith-based organizations just before Christmas

BREAKING NEWS: President Biden just signed H.R. 8404 into law, codifying same-sex marriage in federal law.

How is this different from the Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges?

First, this new law goes much further than the Supreme Court ruling. While the Supreme Court ruling recognized same-sex marriage, the new law threatens religious freedom in new ways. Here’s what our CEO and President Craig DeRoche had to say:

“For the last two years, we’ve seen repeatedly how the Biden Administration pits itself against the American people. Today, President Biden has gone even further by positioning himself against people of faith at Christmastime.

“The so-called religious freedom protections contained within this bill are little more than fig leaves. In reality, this bill could force faith-based adoption agencies to close, silence anyone with a moral objection to same-sex marriage, and target those who dare to disagree.

“While the Biden Administration and their allies in Congress made this signing ceremony about equality, they fail to understand that Americans with sincerely held religious beliefs on marriage will not waiver in their convictions –regardless of the passage of this new law. In the name of acceptance, the Biden Administration has chosen to alienate millions of Americans.”

The second difference from the court ruling is that this law will be harder to undo. If you’ve followed the pro-life movement, you know that it took us nearly 50 years to get Roe v. Wade overturned (and we still have much more work to do in the states). However, that was “just” a court case that could be overturned by another court case. Today, President Biden has signed an actual law passed by both chambers of Congress.

Imagine if Roe v. Wade had been made a federal law.

It will take time to change hearts and minds on this issue. But, we are hardly the first Christians in history to have to stand out from a distinctly un-Christian culture. In fact, we are specifically called to be a light in the darkness and salt on the earth (Matthew 5:13-14). Here at Family Policy Alliance, we see this as a continued opportunity to live that out.

What can I do to help?

At Family Policy Alliance, we are always looking for ways to protect your religious freedom, whether that’s by standing for First Amendment rights at the federal level or working with Family Policy Councils in the states. If you want to help ensure religious freedom for generations to come, please partner with us. We take care to steward each gift well to help advance our vision of a nation where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive, and life is cherished.

And, stay in prayer. Our nation is at a critical juncture. Even as the Biden Administration and its allies use federal policy to advance radical agendas, across the states family values are gaining traction like never before. Please pray for the continued success of these efforts.

Prayerfully,

Autumn Leva,
Sr. VP, Strategy

 

 

 

 

While families across the nation are dealing with economic hardship and other real problems ahead of the holidays, Nancy Pelosi and the lame duck Congress are instead focusing on the advancement of radical ideas across the board – Congress needs to hear your voice now.

Even though she is on the way out as Speaker, Nancy Pelosi’s House has is in session and she plans to force a vote, yet again, on the same-sex marriage bill this week.

Please reach out to your Representative today!

If passed by Pelosi in the House, the same-sex marriage bill will be on its way to President Biden for his signature thsi week.

In its current form, the legislation will have many, if not all, of these consequences:

As this lame duck session of Congress moves ahead, your representative desperately needs to hear from you, urging him or her to oppose the bill—and calling on them to tell Nancy Pelosi to stop this harmful bill from being a top priority.

We may only have hours remaining to impact this bill!

With urgency,

Autumn Leva
Vice President, Strategy


Thank you to all who have been calling on your Senators to STOP the harmful same-sex marriage bill being fast-tracked in the Senate!

In case you haven’t heard, last night the Senate voted to move forward a version of the bill that claims to protect religious freedom for faith-based organizations, but those “protections” are fig leaves at best.

To be clear, that means that the Senate is advancing, at Christmastime, a bill that will target for punishment by the government any charity, ministry, school, or other faith-based organization that believes marriage is the union between one man and one woman.

Merry Christmas from the Schumer Senate.

Thankfully, three brave and bold Senators are working to provide real protection for faith-based ministries.

Senator Mike Lee (R—UT) is working to amend the bill and provide truly robust religious freedom protections. If Senators actually care about prohibiting the government from discriminating against people of faith, they should pass Senator Lee’s amendment.

Tell your Senators to support Senator Lee’s amendment & now.

Senator Lankford (R—OK) is working to amend the bill to limit the harm to faith-based organizations by ensuring that any ministry that partners with the government to provide services (such as faith-based adoption and foster care) will not be targeted.

Tell your Senators to support Senator Lankford’s amendment now.

Senator Rubio (R—FL) is working to amend the bill to prevent activists from burying faith-based ministries in costly litigation to defend their right to believe in marriage as the union between one man and one woman. Suing ministries out of existence seems to be the intent of the sponsors of the same-sex marriage bill without adding this amendment.

Tell your Senators to support Senator Rubio’s amendment now.

Senators will vote on the Lee, Lankford and Rubio amendments tonight and then take a vote on the bill as a whole. That means Senators have a chance to add real religious freedom protections (which must include all of these amendments) and vote against the entire bill.

Tell your Senator to support the religious freedom amendments and oppose this bill!

Here’s our recap of the biggest concerns in the bill:

Please take action today. Today looks to be the last day Senators will have to stop this bill and protect religious freedom. Even if you’ve already contacted your senators about this, they desperately need to hear from you. They will take votes on the religious freedom amendments and the bill itself as early as 3:45PM Eastern TODAY.

Today’s likely the last day to raise your voice in the Senate – be sure to take action now!

For marriage as God designed and for religious freedom,

Autumn Leva,
Sr. Vice President, Strategy

P.S. The Schumer Senate is targeting ministries for punishment at Christmastime. Please help us stop them today!



We all may still be eating turkey leftovers, but today Chuck Schumer’s Senate returns to DC where they plan to restart—and take the next vote on—the same-sex marriage bill.

It is stunning to think that with the many real issues concerning American families, this bill that codifies the Obergefell definition of same-sex marriage into federal law, opens the door to legal polygamy, and paints a target on the backs of faith-based charities during the holidays is what Schumer’s Senate is choosing to prioritize. We surveyed social conservative voters earlier this month, and the number one issue for families was inflation and the economy. The Schumer Senate decision to prioritize this bill reveals the depth of the tone-deaf problem in Washington D.C.

Tell your Senator to oppose this bill!

Here’s our recap of the biggest concerns in the bill:

In addition to targeting charities and ministries around the holidays, Sen. Schumer is pushing forward this bill as a major case heads to the Supreme Court in early December. Our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom are defending small business owner Lorie Smith, owner of 303 Creative in Colorado. Lorie designs websites for her clients, but the same Colorado government that targeted cake artist Jack Phillips now seeks to punish her for designing only those websites that celebrate weddings consistent with her religious beliefs.

If Sen. Schumer gets his way with this bill, the full weight of the federal government could be used to punish Lorie and every other business or ministry like hers.

Please take action today. As the Senate returns from Thanksgiving, they desperately need to hear from you urging them to oppose the bill—and calling on them to tell Senator Schumer to stop this harmful bill from being made top priority.

We only have a few days to stop this bill during the lame duck session—be sure to take action now!

Thank you!

Autumn Leva,
Sr. VP, Strategy



We’re going LIVE with The Heritage Foundation to discuss

BREAKING: The U.S. Senate just advanced a bill that, if it becomes law, will codify the Supreme Court’s definition of marriage in Obergefell into federal law. That carries with it significant concerns for faith-based individuals and entities. 62 Senators voted in favor of advancing it (37 opposed).

We’re going LIVE soon with Eric Teetsel, Vice President for Government Affairs at The Heritage Foundation, to break down what this could mean for families around our nation. Please join us if you can and send this invitation to any friends who want to understand the significance of what just happened. Come with your questions and ask them live in the comments section!

Join us TONIGHT at approximately 7:30 pm ET (6:30 CT / 5:30 MT / 4:30 PT). Click on the picture to join on Facebook:

Not on Facebook? Join us on YouTube, Twitter, or watch below.

In the words of our CEO Craig DeRoche, “Silencing Americans: that’s what the Senate has attempted to do today…And he convinced 12 weak-kneed Republicans to go along with him. … Senator Schumer may be poised to declare victory. But dissenting Americans – indeed, many millions of Americans – will continue to abide by their strongly held religious convictions.” You can read his full statement here.

Join us this evening to learn more about what this could mean for you and your family. We hope to see you soon!

Meridian Baldacci
Director, Strategy

 

 

All the results still aren’t in from the election, but Sen. Chuck Schumer’s Senate is already continuing its woke agenda during the “lame duck” session before January 3rd.

TODAY Sen. Schumer moved forward the fast-tracked same-sex marriage bill that would go even further than the 2015 Obergefell Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage.

The Senate is expected to vote on the bill Wednesday, and they likely have the votes to pass it (overcoming the filibuster) unless enough of our pro-family voices intervene!

It’s incredibly insulting to families that with all the challenges they face—inflation, for example, was the top response in our recent survey and straw poll—this bill is what the Senate is choosing to prioritize.

If passed in the Senate, the same-sex marriage bill will have many, if not all, of these consequences, depending on what version of the bill they decide to move forward:

Tell your Senators to VOTE NO on any version of the same-sex marriage bill!

If Democrats can get 10 Republicans to support this D.C. takeover of marriage, the bill will pass. In fact, a bipartisan group of Senators has been working on amendment language that claims to fix the religious freedom concerns, but their “compromise” does nothing substantive to address the very real threats to religious freedom in the bill.

Democrat leadership wants the American people to bow to the LGBT ideology and they are scaring Republicans into submission. And while political correctness serenades Congress, it’s up to Americans to speak the truth to Congress.

In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court invented a “right” to same-sex marriage, completely redefining this institution established by God and given special importance in our law. Like Roe v. Wade, this ruling was egregiously wrong. But the Court at least recognized that Americans could disagree on the issue reasonably.  Sadly, this new same-sex marriage bill seeks to squelch out any disagreement, forcing everyone in the nation to adhere to woke D.C.’s beliefs about marriage.

Americans know the truth: marriage is between one man and one woman. Americans also know that, when possible, children deserve the chance to be raised with both a mother and a father. And, Americans know that our country was founded so that religious freedom—and the right to disagree without fear of government punishment—could thrive.

Courage is contagious. Contact your Senator and tell them to VOTE NO on the same-sex marriage bill.



Autumn Leva,
Senior VP, Strategy



Democrats are desperate to save their positions of power in Congress–and recruit some Republican members to help. In order to get their woke base to the polls in November, Democrats are voting to redefine marriage through H.R. 8404.

If passed in the Senate, H.R. 8404 will:

Tell your Senator to VOTE NO on H.R. 8404!

On Tuesday, the House passed H.R. 8404 by a vote of 267-157. Unfortunately, 47 Republicans linked arms with Nancy Pelosi to pass the bill.

Now, Senator Schumer and Democrat leadership are working hard to fast-track H.R. 8404 by blatantly ignoring the legislative process and bringing the bill to the floor for a vote–without a committee hearing. The bill could be brought up as early as next week. If Democrats can get 10 Republicans to support this D.C. takeover of marriage, the bill will pass.

Democrat leadership wants the American people to bow to the LGBT ideology and they are scaring Republicans into submission. And while political correctness serenades Congress, it’s up to Americans to speak the truth to Congress.

In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court invented a “right” to same-sex marriage, completely redefining this institution established by God and given special importance in our law. Like Roe, this ruling was egregiously wrong. But the Court at least recognized that Americans could disagree on the issue reasonably.  Sadly, H.R. 8404 seeks to squelch out any disagreement, forcing everyone in the nation to adhere to the woke government’s beliefs about marriage.

It makes no sense for the legislative branch to parade around a wrongly decided Court ruling to strong-arm American’s beliefs about marriage –especially while gas prices are soaring, inflation is at an all-time high, and government officials can’t define what a woman is.

Americans know the truth: marriage is between one man and one woman. Americans also know that, when possible, children deserve the chance to be raised with both a mother and a father.

Courage is contagious. Contact your Senator and tell them to VOTE NO on H.R. 8404.

For family,

Nicole Hudgen
Government Affairs

Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats are desperate. They are trying to appease their far-left base before the November election while also trying to distract Americans from the failures of the Biden Administration and the Democrat-run Congress.

How? Yesterday, Democrats introduced H.R. 8404, a bill to codify same-sex marriage. Today, they are putting that bill on the House Floor for a vote.

Tell your Member of Congress to VOTE NO on H.R. 8404!

Democrats are working so hard to fast-track the bill that the legislation was announced and the House Rules Committee began a hearing on the bill- in less than an hour. This is an extreme breach of congressional norms.

This is why their credibility continues to tank with the American people. While gas prices and inflation soar, leaders of the Democrat party continue preaching a woke agenda in their echo chamber. But American families aren’t buying what they’re selling. Moms and dads don’t want their daughters turned into sons in government schools. Americans don’t want “all abortion all the time”—even up to birth. And voters didn’t elect our leaders to redefine marriage in order to “play that on repeat” in an effort to bring us all into submission.

In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court invented a “right” to same-sex marriage, completely redefining this institution established by God and given special importance in our law. Like Roe, this ruling was egregiously wrong. The Court ignored voters and state legislatures that recognized marriage is between one man and one woman.

But Americans know the truth: marriage is between one man and one woman. Americans also know that, when possible, children deserve the chance to be raised with both a mother and a father.

It makes no sense for the legislative branch to parade around a wrongly decided Court ruling.

Tell your Member of Congress to VOTE NO on H.R. 8404!

For family,

Nicole Hudgens
Government Affairs




Family Policy Alliance joins Texas Values in advocating for the “Save Chick-fil-A”
bill that became law in Texas this year

Like millions of families across the nation, my family stood in line in the Phoenix hot summer sun, waiting patiently to get into our locaL Chick-fil-A. Hours passed while polite, caring patrons stood in support—not to “Eat Mor Chikin,”—but rather to stand firm for truth. As hours passed, umbrellas for shade were brought and shared, water appeared and was distributed, hats passed down the line and…no one left. It was a grassroots movement for something greater and a memorable moment for Americans holding traditional values.

The occasion for solidarity was that Chick-fil-A owner Dan Cathy had just been vilified by the press and “right wing watch-dog” groups—like the ones that call Family Policy Alliance® a hate group—for saying in passing that he supports marriage between one man and one woman. This prompted self-appointed radicals to descend upon Chick-fil-A stores where they hoped to intimidate young, service-minded employees and catch them in “gay hate.” Instead, what they found were well-trained young Americans responding to intolerance with grace.

It also turned out to be the best sales day in history for Chick-fil-A, and a loyal, nationwide Christian following was galvanized…until last week.

By now you know the Chick-fil-A Foundation made the decision to bend the knee to the Baals of political correctness and cut funding to groups who hold to a biblical definition of marriage, family, and faith. At the end of this note, I am including some links that provide the context around the story, including the people involved: Tim Tassopoulos, Chick-fil-A’s President and COO; the Chick-fil-A Foundation Director, Rodney Bullard, and his ties to a leftist organization; a statement from Chick-fil-A Owner, Dan Cathy, through Franklin Graham; and an article about Chick-fil-A Founder, Truett Cathy’s values.

Rather than restate what is in public, you can decide for yourself. However, I would like to share a few other observations:

Just a few months ago, Family Policy Alliance proudly stood by Texas Values, our Texas ally, who led the way on the “Save Chick-fil-A” religious freedom bill that passed through the Texas legislature and was subsequently signed by Governor Greg Abbott. As quoted in the Dallas News, “The bill was born out of the city of San Antonio’s vote to boot Chick-fil-A from the airport based on its charitable donations to certain Christian organizations.” The new law ensures that state and local governments cannot punish individuals and businesses because of their membership or association with a religious organization, or because of their donation to a religious organization.

Our legislative advocacy prevailed – and in so doing we protected everyone (not just Chick-fil-A) from religious discrimination. We did not sue anyone as the Left does. Instead, we did what the constitution requires. We promoted legislation to remedy actual constituents’ problems, which was debated and advanced by local elected officials who are held accountable by their own voters. This is how we can, together, stand firm and advocate for good laws that support our values.

If you would like to support a local organization that is standing for you, your values, and the values that the Cathy Family says they hold, please check out our state Allies Page, click on your state organization, and send them a gift today! Together, we are your voice in the public square and in the statehouses across America.

Standing (in long lines and for a lifetime) for Family Values,

Paul Weber
President & CEO

 

Helpful Links

Family Policy Alliance Support Local Owner-Operator Letter

The Values of Chick-fil-A Founder—Truett Cathy

Initial Story on Defunding Pro-Marriage Groups

Who’s running Chick-fil-A Foundation—Rodney D. Bullard

Who’s running Chick-fil-A—Tim Tassopoulos

Franklin Graham on CFA owner Dan Cathy

CFA Foundation Statement—Future Support

 

Our allies at Family Action Council of Tennessee have just launched a new initiative that could reshape the marriage debate in Tennessee and eventually the nation.

God-Given Marriage informs Tennesseans on the true nature of marriage and gives citizens practical steps toward restoring that understanding of marriage.

With the backing of leading constitutional attorneys, this initiative clarifies what marriage really is – and the legal limits on courts that try to re-define it.

 Please visit God-Given Marriage today to learn more and find out how you can reshape the marriage debate right now in the Volunteer State!

The Family Policy Alliance Team