Tue. Dec 10th, 2024

Senator James Lankford (R-OK) warned that the Department of Energy policy requiring the agency to collect and store religious exemption requests may violate the First Amendment.

The policy aims to “collect, maintain, and disseminate records on employees and applicants for employment who seek and receive medical and non-medical accommodations.”

Those whose information will be maintained in the system include “federal employees or applicants for employment requesting accommodation based on a ‘sincerely held’ religious belief, practice, or observance under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act,” such as requests for a medical or religious accommodation.

Breaking NewsSpirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!

Information pertaining to the requestor’s “religious or spiritual leader’s name, email address, and phone number; name, email address, and phone number of third parties involved in assisting the requestor with making the request, such as a friend, health professional, or family member,” must also be provided.

In a letter obtained by The Washington Stand, Lankford expressed to DOE official Ann Dunkin his “strong opposition to the Department of Energy’s recent notice regarding the establishment of a new system of records…”

The senator warned that the policy “represents a grave violation of religious liberty as protected under the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.” He added that “collecting detailed records on an individual’s sincerely held religious beliefs and practices — alongside other personal and sensitive information — poses a significant threat to the privacy and religious freedoms of federal employees.”

Get your FREE CHARISMA NEWSLETTERS today! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Holy Spirit news, Christian teachings, Charisma videos & more!

“The federal government has an obligation to protect religious liberty, ensuring that individuals are not subject to unnecessary scrutiny or invasive data collection that could deter them from exercising their constitutionally protected rights,” he noted.

Lankford further stated that the DOE policy “risks creating an environment in which employees may feel compelled to disclose private details about their faith or religious practices in order to justify their accommodation requests,” which may lead to “potential religious discrimination or bias in the workplace.” He then asked the agency to “consider alternative ways to ensure reasonable accommodations are granted without compromising the privacy and religious liberties of federal employees.”

This article originally appeared on American Faith, and is reposted with permission.

Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!

Related Post

Leave a Reply

Related Podcasts

More News
7 Ways to Recognize God’s Leading in Your Life for 2025
7 Ways to Recognize God’s Leading in Your Life for 2025
Larry Tomczak’s Week in Review: Learning About Demons and Deliverance
Larry Tomczak’s Week in Review: Learning About Demons and Deliverance
Top of the Week: Update on Bishop TD Jakes: 3 Things to Know
Top of the Week: Update on Bishop TD Jakes: 3 Things to Know
Red Christmas
Red Christmas
Obedience as Evidence of Discipline
Obedience as Evidence of Discipline
Discover Joy in Generosity
Discover Joy in Generosity
Don’t Take a Holiday From the Holy Spirit
Don’t Take a Holiday From the Holy Spirit
How the ‘Immaculate Constellation’ Fuels End Times Great Deception
How the ‘Immaculate Constellation’ Fuels End Times Great Deception
Morning Rundown: Should Christians Get Tattoos? Demon Slayer Podcast Weighs In
Morning Rundown: Should Christians Get Tattoos? Demon Slayer Podcast Weighs In
The Spiritual Warfare Tactics Every Christian Must Know
The Spiritual Warfare Tactics Every Christian Must Know
previous arrow
next arrow
Shadow

Latest Videos
85.2K Subscribers
1K Videos
8.5M Views

Copy link