Rev. Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, has condemned a gender and sexual orientation bill recently passed by the California Assembly.
“California AB-2943 is the most egregious, tone-deaf and discriminatory example of anti-religious legislation that I have ever witnessed in all my years of ministry,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “First, I am deeply troubled that this profoundly flawed bill has already passed the California Assembly and now sits with the Senate. I am not overstating the matter when I say this bill will have a destructive effect on churches and ministries far beyond its stated purpose of prohibiting sexual-orientation change efforts–which in itself represents a wrong-headed abuse of power and an assault on individual freedom.
“AB-2943 gives the state terrifying power to target and punish all those who hold a traditional, biblical view of marriage and sexuality. It is certainly anti-Bible and anti-Christian, but it’s also incompatible with the other major religions, including Judaism and Islam. We must not allow AB-2943 to progress any further legislatively. I urge all those who count as sacred our right to freedom of religion to stand against this terrible legislation. May we also pray for California’s politicians that wisdom, sanity and respect for people of faith would prevail in Sacramento.” {eoa}
