Hundreds of Faith Leaders Say “My Faith Doesn’t Discriminate” on National Religious Freedom Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 15, 2020​

MEDIA CONTACT  

Michelle Nealy, mnealy@faithinpubliclife.org, (202) 735-7123
Mackenzie Harris, mharris@faithinpubliclife.org, (610) 283-8879

Hundreds of Faith Leaders Say “My Faith Doesn’t Discriminate” on National Religious Freedom Day

Washington, D.C. – Over 900 leaders from diverse faith traditions have signed a national petition declaring that their faith does not discriminate and that religious freedom should not be misused by people who want to discriminate against our LGBTQ neighbors and people of minority faiths.​

“Our religious traditions call us to uphold the dignity of our neighbors who are targets of oppression and discrimination,” the letter states. “Religious freedom has been misused to justify denying shelter to vulnerable youth experiencing homelessness, firing dedicated employees for being married to partners of the same gender, and preventing children from being placed in secure, loving foster homes. These kinds of discrimination are not a true manifestation of religious freedom.”​

To view the letter and full list of signers, click here. ​

Rev. Jennifer Butler, CEO, Faith in Public Life:

“As a pastor, I strongly value our core American ideal of religious freedom. As a follower of Christ I am called to love my neighbor, not discriminate against them. On Religious Freedom Day, I’m proud to see so many people of faith and good will join together to reclaim religious freedom and oppose its abuse as a weapon of discrimination.”​

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Faith in Public Life is a national movement of clergy and faith leaders united in the prophetic pursuit of justice, equality and the common good.