WASHINGTON, May 27, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Kennedy-Hatch hate crimes bill, now sponsored by Republicans Orrin Hatch and Gordon Smith, which includes the term “sexual orientation,” will be brought up as an amendment next week in the Senate to the Defense bill.
At a gathering with homosexual activists last year, Hatch told opponents of the proposed hate crimes measure to “grow up.”“Even though this bill is sponsored by Gordon Smith and Orrin Hatch—both Republicans—it’s really the old Kennedy hate crimes bill that’s been resurrected,” Bob Knight, director of the Culture and Family Institute said, as reported by Agape Press. “And it’s a very dangerous bill, because it adds ‘sexual orientation’ to hate crimes law, and it greatly expands federal jurisdiction.” The implications of the new bill could be far-reaching, and have repercussions for religious freedom in the U.S.
Bruce Clemenger, president of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, after the recent passage of the Canadian hate-crimes legislation, said, “While opposing the promotion of hatred against anyone, we are deeply concerned about the chilling effect this legislation may have on the legitimate expression of religious belief. We as a religious community want to ensure that the purpose of prohibiting hate speech does not criminalize the legitimate expression of religious belief, the resulting views of morality nor religious texts.” The Canadian law has created concern that religious materials may be subject to interception, seizure and forfeiture as ‘hate’ materials by Canada Post on entrance to the country.
Read related LifeSiteNews.com coverage: Homosexual Hate Crime Bill Pushed in US by ‘formerly’ conservative Republican Hatch https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/nov/03111403.html Homosexual Hate Crime Signed into Law; Chilling Effect on Free Speech, Religion and Importing Materials (Canada) https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/apr/04042901.html