Friday, April 19, 2024

Will Clinton Protect the 501(c)(3) Status of Religious Groups?

U.S. Supreme Court (public domain image via Wikimedia Commons)
U.S. Supreme Court (public domain image via Wikimedia Commons)

Last week, I wrote about Hillary Clinton’s disturbing assertion that her agenda for America and the world includes changing the “deep seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases” that stand in the way of “reproductive rights” (translation: abortion on demand).   I suggested that Republican presidential candidates need to be asking Mrs. Clinton and her supporters to tell us exactly what actions they intend to take to change the religious beliefs of American people on this issue and others that conflict with her radical governing vision.

Hillary hasn’t responded yet, but she can thank Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli, Jr., for offering a glimpse of what she and her allies have in mind.  Under questioning from Justice Samuel Alito during the oral arguments in the marriage case currently before the Supreme Court,  Verrilli, speaking on behalf of the federal government, said that if gay “marriage” becomes the law of the land, the tax exempt status of colleges and universities whose religious beliefs define marriage as a union between one man and one woman “is certainly going to be an issue.” That means that any educational institution in the nation that espouses a faith that conflicts with the gay marriage agenda will find its tax exempt status, and perhaps its very existence, in jeopardy.

That’s one way to try to change the religious beliefs of the American people — destroy their schools and disperse their teachers. There will be more.

Frank Cannon is the president of American Principles in Action.

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