Proposed Religious Speech Law

A religious speech amendment has been added to hate crimes legislation in Congress. The bill would make certain crimes related to "race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability” federal offenses. Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas introduced the amendment that explicitly protects speech from the pulpit (digital or electronic)unless its intent was to cause violence. The bill still must weave its way through both houses of Congress but is believed to have a good chance of passage. The president has indicated his willingness to sign the legislation into law.