Religious leaders renew call for hate-crimes legislation


By Kenny Byrd

WASHINGTON (ABP) — In light of newly released statistics reporting a rise in hate crimes, leaders of the Interfaith Alliance have sent a letter to U.S. senators asking for passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

The legislation would make it easier for federal prosecutors to pursue crimes against racial, religious and ethnic minorities, as well as gays and lesbians.

Many religious conservatives oppose the idea, because it would focus on the hate motivation rather than the crime itself and would raise sexual orientation to a protected status. But other religious leaders have backed it as a way to curb violent crime.

“When true to the prophetic core of our religions, we cannot condemn hate and then refuse to act to stop the hate and violence fomented upon us,” Welton Gaddy, executive director of the Interfaith Alliance, stated in the letter. “Religion and government must work together to create a society in which diverse people are safe as well as free.”

The U.S. Department of Justice’s 1999 Hate Crimes Statistics report shows a growing number of hate crimes being committed against individuals based on race, religion, sexual orientation and disability.

The report said that 9,301 hate crime offenses were reported in 1999. Of those, 5,240 were motivated by bias against race, 1,532 by religion, 1,487 by sexual orientation, 1,011 by ethnicity or national origin and 21 by disability.

Gaddy disputed claims by Religious Right leaders that the legislation could infringe upon their rights to hold or espouse their personal religious beliefs. “Simply put, it is incomprehensible for this bill to be considered in any way a limitation on the rights and practices of religious people,” he said.

Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, has been quoted as being opposed to the measure. “All crimes committed against human persons should be dealt with justly, equitably and swiftly under the laws of the land,” he said.

The ERLC listed 10 reasons for opposing hate-crimes legislation, including the possibility that gay-and-lesbian advocates would seek to punish those who preach homosexuality and the agency’s belief that genuine hate crimes are not widespread. Another objection cited by the ERLC is the measure would advance “the radical, well-publicized agenda of homosexuals to gain acceptance for and legal recognition of homosexuality as a normal lifestyle.”

Associated Baptist Press. Used with Permission.

13
people are currently praying.

💡 Did you know? One of the best ways you can support Worthy News is by simply leaving a comment and sharing this article.

📢 Social media algorithms push content further when there’s more engagement — so every 👍 like, 💬 comment, and 🔄 share helps more people discover the truth. 🙌

Latest Worthy News

Boko Haram Kills Eight Christians in Fresh Attacks on Nigerian Villages
Netanyahu Weighs West Bank Sovereignty as UN Prepares for Palestinian State Recognition Push
Netanyahu and IDF Chief Vow “Decisive Victory” as Gaza City Campaign Nears
U.S. Military Strikes Venezuelan Drug Boat, Trump Warns Cartels: “Beware”
Trump Administration Mobilizes Military Lawyers to Tackle Immigration Backlog
Russia and China Move Ahead With Power of Siberia-2 Pipeline, But Beijing Holds the Cards
Xi Jinping Pushes for New Global Order at SCO Summit Alongside Putin and Modi
Federal Judge Rules Trump Violated Posse Comitatus Act in California Troop Deployment
Indonesian Diplomat Shot Dead in Peru as Protests at Home Leave 10 Dead
Fair Use Notice:This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Worthy Christian News