The First Amendment Defense Act would prohibit the federal government from intruding on the individuals’ right of conscience and safeguard churches, businesses, and organizations from being denied tax-exemptions, contracts, licenses, and certifications for adhering to traditional marriage views. Under this Act, churches could not lose their tax-exempt status for refusing to conduct same-sex marriages.
The First Amendment Defense Act is an anti-government-bullying bill that protects all Americans from the government punishing and prosecuting them for following their religious convictions. Whether you agree or disagree with same sex-marriage is not the issue. What is at stake is whether we remain a nation that protects an individuals’ right of conscience, or force all people to conform to a common belief system, dictated by the hand of big government,” said Rep. Loudermilk.
The full text of H.R. 2802, the First Amendment Defense Act, can be read HERE.