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Alabama Advances Faith-Based Measures
Jason Yates, Chief Executive Officer, My Faith Votes
May 3, 2017
My Faith Votes commends Alabama legislators for recently approving two important measures for the faith community. The first allows voters to decide if a “right to life” protection will be included in the state’s constitution. The second would grant religious freedom protections to adoption service providers:
“Though seemingly small steps in the greater struggle against abortion and in opposition to the cultural fight for the redefinition of marriage in our nation, these measures represent deeply-held values shared by millions of American Christians. My Faith Votes commends these Alabama legislators, who are listening to the voices of their constituents by fighting to defend life and preserve the freedoms of religious institutions. May these courageous actions inspire other legislators to join them in leading America back to a nation of life and religious liberty.”
The Child Placing Agency Inclusion Act
The Child Placing Agency Inclusion Act would allow faith-based adoption agencies in Alabama the freedom to accept applications based on religious beliefs and convictions, and the bill is on its way to being signed by Gov. Kay Ivey. The bill safeguards faith-based agencies that choose to place children according to what they believe will be best for the children. Specifically, it allows adoption and foster care agencies to deny service to LGBT couples on the basis of religious freedom.
Rep. Rich Wingo (R-Tuscaloosa), one of the bill’s sponsors, wants to ensure that people of any faith, or no faith at all, are free to serve children and families in ways consistent with the values of the communities that first inspired their service. "These faith-based agencies have been forced to close their doors because they refuse to place children in homes that go against their faith," he said.
This is an issue of religious freedom, which is more than freedom to worship or attend a worship service. It covers the right to live out our faith with a clear conscience in the public square. My Faith Votes commends Rep. Wingo and the Alabama legislator for recognizing this important issue and standing up for religious freedom.
Measure to Make Alabama a Right-to-Life State
Last week, the Alabama Senate approved a measure to give voters the opportunity to make the state a “Right to Life” state. The proposal would amend the Alabama Constitution, making it a state policy to recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life.
The amendment states:
“The state acknowledges, declares and affirms that it is the public policy of this state to recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children, including the right to life.
“The state further acknowledges, declares and affirms that is the public policy of this state to ensure the protection of the rights of the unborn child, including the right to life.”
The measure is largely symbolic, only making abortion illegal once Roe vs. Wade is overturned. Yet, it is a significant step to eventually making abortion illegal in the state.
My Faith Votes strongly supports measures to recognize and protect every human life. For the faith community, human value is not determined by ethnicity, race, gender, age, ability, citizenship, or any other identifying factor. Value is based on being made in the likeness of God; it is a divine and irrevocable membership in the human family.
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My Faith Votes—is a nonpartisan movement that motivates, equips and activates Christians in America to vote in every election, transforming our communities and influencing our nation with biblical truth. By partnering with national faith leaders, My Faith Votes provides resources to help Christians Pray, Think, and Act to create an America where God is honored in the public square.
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