Two of the eight Religious Freedom bills making their way through the General Assembly were merged Friday, and passed the Senate by a 38-14 vote after more than three hours of sometimes-heated debate.
Senators gave approval to the bill along party lines which combined the Pastor Protection Act and the First Amendment Defense Act, and then sent the new version back to the House. If the House approves the revised version, HB 757 will move on to the Governor for his signature. However, if the House disagree with the changes, the bill will go back to the Senate.
The Pastor Protection Act sailed through the House 161-0 last week, but the new version adds the working from Sen. Greg Kirk’s (R-Americus) more controversial First Amendment Defense Act.
The Pastor Protection Act would allow religious leaders across the state to refuse to perform same-sex marriages. The First Amendment Defense Act (SB 284), is about equal protection and not discrimination, according to what Kirk told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently.
As written, the bill now allows religious organizations to deny services on the grounds of “a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction” against same-sex marriage. The bill would apply to locally funded and state-funded nonprofit organizations such as hospitals, adopting centers and even homeless shelters.
Opponents say Kirk’s bill allows tax-funded groups to deny services to gays and lesbians. Georgia business leaders have also criticized the bill, expressing concerns that it could lead to result in boycotts and negative publicity.
But Kirk disagrees.
“It only impacts the government’s interaction with faith-based organizations or a person who holds faith-based, sincerely held beliefs as it relates to marriage,” he said.
“This bill takes nothing away” from LGBT couples in Georgia, Kirk was quoted as saying. “We are providing protections for all beliefs.”
During opening remarks in the Senate Friday, Kirk said, “It limits the ability of government in Georgia to take an adverse action, like denial of tax status, on the basis of an individual or faith based organization’s views as relates to marriage alone. One issue.”
Democrats have opposing views of the bill.
“It definitely sends the message, if you want to discriminate based on your views of marriage, have at it,” said Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) during Friday’s debate.
As initially presented the Pastor Protection Act (sponsored by Republican Rep. Kevin Tanner of Dawsonville) would also allow religious organizations to refuse to rent, lease or allow their property to used for purposes that are contradictory to their beliefs and would prohibit local governments from forcing any business to open on a day set aside for religious observances — which could be either Saturday or Sunday. This was the one of the eight religious freedom bills up for consideration this year that had the backing of House Speaker David Ralston.
