A new report confirmed, "Attacks on churches have increased nearly 800 percent in less than six years." There have been "915 acts of hostility against churches in the United States," Family Research Council found. In just part of 2023, there were "436 acts of hostility against churches." This hostility is escalating rapidly.

At the same time, Democrats are working to push the dangerous “Equality Act” through Congress. At any moment, if only five Republicans cave on this key issue, HR 15 will pass. In a prior version of HR 15, several Republicans voted for it.

Democrats just gained another vote with the recent special election in New York. They now have 213 votes and need only five more to bypass the Speaker of the House to pass this dangerous bill.

This extensive legislation is the most comprehensive threat to religious freedom we have yet seen in America! It would elevate the LGBT & Q agenda above religious freedom in every corner of America — including churches and religious schools.

But these radical legislators weren’t counting on you acting!

We are rushing you this email so you can send urgent faxes right now to Congress. If the so-called “Equality Act” becomes law, it will cause unimaginable damage to the lives of people of faith in every corner of our nation. Fax now. — Your Faith & Liberty team

The wrongly named “Equality Act” elevates “sexual orientation and gender identity” to the same specially protected class as race. The best way to conceptualize the far-reaching impact of the “Equality Act” is expressed in this short sentence: What you cannot do legally respecting race, you will not be able to do legally respecting LGBT or gender identity.

It will transform every area of American life — including churches; religious colleges and universities; public, private, and Christian schools; curricula; religious and private organizations; employers; employees; individuals; foster care and adoption; shelters; local, state, and federal entities; privacy; women’s rights, including sports; a single individual providing a product or service online from their home; and more.

It will be used to ban lifesaving counsel to those struggling with unwanted desires or behaviors.

The “Equality Act” goes far beyond making legislative demands for Americans to "respect" LGBT behavior. This legislation will result in the wholesale destruction of our freedom, including religious freedom.

Already we are seeing people and places of faith vilified across America:

• St. Joseph Catholic Church in Louisville, Kentucky, was vandalized, which included the letters “TRANS PWR” painted on it.

• Cameron Storer is a biological male who claims to be female. Storer is accused of setting fire to a Portland Korean Church ... after hearing voices telling him to burn the church down.

• Nashville Covenant School is the Christian school where trans-identifying Audrey Hale reportedly shot and killed six people, including three young students.

And these are just a few of the HUNDREDS of attacks against churches and people of faith. The Equality Act will make it so much worse!

And if you don't bow, you could be sued.

Thankfully, in the last Congress, this bill was stopped in the Senate. The battle this time will require every vote we can muster.

One former legislator said this bill “endangers the First Amendment right of every single American, because the bill makes no provision for sincerely held religious belief, it will criminalize the fundamental tenets of major world religions.”

Take note: For the first time ever, this bill states that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act may not be used as a defense!

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) stated that HR 15 is clear in its intent. It “is a brazen attempt to replace religious liberties with the identity politics of the moment.” She went on to describe this bill as “hysterical clawing at individual Americans who hold personal religious convictions.”

It is imperative that we do not allow this bill to pass. Stand with me today.

Faith & Liberty is proud to stand in opposition to this horrific bill.

But now the stakes are even higher than they were when the bill was first introduced. So, please do not just read this email and think someone else will act. We need each of you to pray and act NOW.

Your financial support allows us to be on the front lines of the battle for the heart and soul of our nation. If you can, join our extended Challenge Grant to DOUBLE your impact to help the massive effort needed to defeat this dangerous bill. Support Faith & Liberty today.

We encourage you to pray with us for our nation through Isaiah 59:19: “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.”

We are humbled to have the opportunity to stand for truth and righteousness, and we invite you to be a part of this crucial battle.

For freedom,

Peggy Nienaber, Senior Vice President
Mat Staver, Chairman
Rev. Gregory Cox, Senior Pastor

TAKE ACTION

Sources:

“Baldwin, Merkley, Booker Announce Senate Introduction of Landmark, Urgently Needed LGBTQ Rights Bill: U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin.” U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, February 18, 2021. Baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/baldwin-equality-act-2021.

Hamilton, Katherine. “Report: Attacks on Churches Increased 800% in 6 Years.” Breitbart, February 22, 2024. Breitbart.com/politics/2024/02/22/attacks-churches-increase-800-6-years/.

“H.R.15.” Congress.gov. Accessed February 2, 2024. Congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/15/text.