Thursday, June 18, 2009

Politics: "U.S. Civil Rights Commissioners Oppose Hate-Crimes Bill"

clipped from www.citizenlink.org

U.S. Civil Rights Commissioners Oppose Hate-Crimes Bill

The Hate Crimes Prevention Act has gotten a thumbs-down from members of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, in the form of a letter to Senate leaders saying the proposed legislation "will do little good and a great deal of harm."

But he said the worst part of the hate-crimes bill is it could restrict free speech, "because if a pastor stands up and preaches that the Word of God says that homosexuality is wrong, that pastor could be accused of hate speech and could even be accused or charged with inducing someone to commit a crime against a homosexual."

"This particular hate-crimes bill would be the first time the federal government disapproves of a valid, sincerely held religious belief held by a majority of Americans," he explained. "And that's very troubling for free speech and free exercise of religion."

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