Hatred isn't "religious freedom"

Michael Sherrard, Faithful America  - mail@faithfulamerica.org

Dear Faithful America member,

It's becoming a national epidemic: State legislatures across the country are advancing bills to legalize discrimination under the guise of protecting "religious freedom."

In Arizona, a last-minute gubernatorial veto just stopped "no gays allowed" signs from going up in businesses across the state. And in Kansas, the state house passed an even more extreme bill, before it ran into trouble in the state senate.

Similar legislation has been introduced in at least 14 states, including Georgia, where a bill has already passed out of a senate committee and is awaiting a floor vote.

This isn't a coincidence -- well-connected national organizations like Focus on the Family have quietly spearheaded this effort, drafting model legislation and tapping their conservative political allies to make sure bills get quietly introduced in as many states as possible.

In many conservative states, the only Christians organized to effectively lobby their state legislatures are anti-gay extremists bankrolled by the religious right. As a result, they've been able to convince many politicians that most Christians want legal protection in order to practice anti-gay discrimination.

It's up to Christians like us to show that this idea runs directly contrary to the teachings of Jesus. So starting today, we're launching an emergency campaign to show that most Christians are appalled that politicians and pastors are using the idea of "religious freedom" to advance a hateful agenda.

Chip in $15 to help Faithful America challenge hatred disguised as faith.

Wherever this legislation has a chance of passage, we'll organize thousands of Christians to speak out:

• We'll run ads reminding politicians and journalists that most Christians oppose discrimination.
• We'll pack hearing rooms and flood state legislative offices with phone calls from pastors and other Christian leaders.
• We'll challenge religious leaders, like the Catholic bishops, to drop their support for legislation that runs directly contrary to the teachings of our faith.
• We'll reach out to media outlets to make sure their coverage reflects the reality that most Christians are opposed to discrimination.

But we need to raise at least $10,000 to get started with this emergency campaign. Can you chip in?
Donate to Faithful America.
Thanks for your support,
Michael and Aaron

To RETURN to "My Favorite Charities," Click HERE.