Sexual orientation forces changes in religious beliefs
Recognizing “sexual orientation” and “ gender identity ” as grounds for non-discrimination in new federal housing regulations could require faith-based groups to violate their religious beliefs, warned the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) last week. The new regulations from the Department of Housing and Urban Development ( HUD ) would require that organizations participating in HUD programs not discriminate on these two grounds. But the regulations could “force” faith-based organizations to violate their religious beliefs by requiring – as a condition for HUD funds – that they make housing available to homosexual or unmarried couples, wrote USCCB General Counsel Anthony R. Picarello, Jr. and Associate General Counsel Michael F. Moses in a March 25th letter. “By this, we do not mean that any person should be denied housing,” the attorneys stressed. “Making decisions about shared housing, however, is another matter.” “Particularly here, faith-based and other organiz