Evangelicals Split on Hate Crimes Bill

05/01/2009

Legislation that adds “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the list of motives used to qualify a hate crime is drawing mixed reviews from evangelical leaders.

The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, H.R. 1913, passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a 249 to 175 vote this week, posing the possibility that the above terms will be added to race, religion and national origin. Some religious conservatives believe that the bill could restrict free speech, forbidding people from expressing their disagreement with homosexuality. If homosexuality is placed on the same level as other minority distinctions, even the mere challenge might be qualified as “hate speech” -- or that's the fear, at least.

Representatives from the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and Traditional Values Coalition have labeled the bill as “irresponsible” and “anti-Christian.” On the other hand, notable moderate to progressive evangelicals, including Jim Wallis and Joel Hunter, believe the legislation is moral and necessary.

A companion Senate bill was introduced by Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., called the Matthew Shepherd Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Matthew Shepherd was a gay Wyoming teen beaten and killed, though his murder was never classified as a hate crime.

The bill has strongly been supported by Democrats and would likely be signed into law by President Obama. Both houses of Congress were close to passing similar legislation ion 2007 but fearing a President Bush veto, they were undable to work out details.

Source:

Associated Baptist Press: Hate-Crimes Bill Divides Evangelicals