US Bishops respond to House Vote on Equality Act

Source: USCCB

Five chairmen of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have responded to the US House of Representatives' passage of the Equality Act (HR. 5) on May 17, 2019 in the following statement:

The Act would add the new terms "sexual orientation" and "gender identity," as well as "pregnancy […] or a related medical condition," to the definition of "sex" in federal civil rights laws; expand the types of entities covered under those laws; and exempt itself from the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993.

Upon the bill's passage by 236 to 173 in the House, the bishops said: "Our faith calls us to uphold every individual's dignity and rights against unjust discrimination - including in employment, housing, and services - regardless of characteristics or background. Rather than offering meaningful protections for individuals, the Equality Act would impose sweeping new norms that negatively impact the unborn, health care, charitable services, schools, personal privacy, athletics, free speech, religious liberties, and parental rights.

"The Act's unsound definitions of 'sex' and 'gender identity' would erase women's distinct, hard-won recognition in federal laws. Its sex-based nondiscrimination terms would end women's shelters and many single-sex schools. It would close faith-based foster care and adoption agencies that honour children's rights to a mother and father. The bill would even act as an abortion mandate. We must pursue justice and equality for anyone denied it; but this is a regrettable approach. We are gravely disappointed with the Act's passage in the US House."

The statement was jointly issued by Archbishop Joseph F Naumann of Kansas City, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities; Bishop Frank J Dewane of Venice, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; Bishop Michael C Barber of Oakland, chairman of the Committee on Catholic Education; Archbishop Joseph E Kurtz of Louisville, chairman of the Committee for Religious Liberty; and Bishop James D Conley of Lincoln, chairman of the Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage; some of whom had sent or cosigned letters to Members of Congress in opposition to the Equality Act in the months leading up to Friday's vote.