Sessions announces new 'Religious Liberty Task Force'

[Swordsmyth]

The US Department of Justice has created a “religious liberty task force” to help implement the Trump administration’s new religious guidance.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions warned that the country had become "less hospitable to people of faith” as he announced its formation at a Justice Department Religious Liberty Summit.
"A dangerous movement, undetected by many, is now challenging and eroding our great tradition of religious freedom,” he said. “There can be no doubt. This is no little matter. It must be confronted and defeated."
He added that it would help Justice Department officials uphold new religious liberty guidance in the cases they bring, the arguments they make in court and the policies they adopt.
Issued in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order last year, the guidelines prohibited the government from punishing anyone who acted “in accordance with one’s religious beliefs”.

The task force will be co-chaired by Assistant Attorney General Beth Williams and acting Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio. Mr Panuccio previously represented supporters of a failed attempt to ban same-sex marriage in California.


In his speech, Mr Sessions highlighted the “plight” of Jack Phillips, a conservative Christian baker who refused to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding because of his religious beliefs.
The US Supreme Court ruled last month that he could not be forced to bake the cake.
Mr Sessions also alluded to an Obama-era policy that required employers to include contraceptive coverage in their employee health care plans.
The attorney general said that the US had "seen nuns ordered to buy contraceptives”. The Trump administration has exempted religious groups from the contraceptive coverage requirement.

More at: https://www.yahoo.com/news/jeff-sess...235625350.html

[Zippyjuan]

Does this mean the Muslim ban will be lifted?

prohibited the government from punishing anyone who acted “in accordance with one’s religious beliefs”.

If you are not allowed to impose ones own religious beliefs on somebody else would that mean that a Christian could not deny the rights of a non- Christian to say have an abortion?

[Swordsmyth]

Does this mean the Muslim ban will be lifted?

Foreigners don't have a right to come here and we can pace any restriction on which ones we allow in that we want, they are perfectly free to practice their religion in their own countries without interference from us.

[Zippyjuan]

Foreigners don't have a right to come here and we can pace any restriction on which ones we allow in that we want, they are perfectly free to practice their religion in their own countries without interference from us.

So "religious freedom" only applies to certain government approved religions.

[Swordsmyth]

So "religious freedom" only applies to certain government approved religions.

That is not what I said.

Those that are allowed to come here and those that are born here have religious freedom here, those that we don't allow to come here should have it in their homelands, if they don't that is their problem.

[Zippyjuan]

Would you say it is OK to use religion to decide who to allow and not allow into the country? If so, then that is allowing in only government sanctioned religions.

[Swordsmyth]

Would you say it is OK to use religion to decide who to allow and not allow into the country? If so, then that is allowing in only government sanctioned religions.

Religion can be an important part of culture and can be a perfectly legitimate factor in determining who is allowed to come here.
However religions can be brought her by methods other than immigration and there are already muslims here, the government is not prohibiting the free exercise of any religion.

[Zippyjuan]

Religion can be an important part of culture and can be a perfectly legitimate factor in determining who is allowed to come here.
However religions can be brought her by methods other than immigration and there are already muslims here, the government is not prohibiting the free exercise of any religion.

So you do support only allowing in those with government OK'd religions.

[Swordsmyth]

So you do support only allowing in those with government OK'd religions.

I support keeping out any culture that is a threat to liberty.

Which is worse? Keeping out one religion while not interfering with those who are already here and practice it or allowing in a culture that will ban all other religions?
(THIS QUESTION NEED NOT BE APPLIED ONLY TO ISLAM, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY RELIGIONS THAT ADVOCATED THE SUPPRESSION OF ALL OTHERS)

[Zippyjuan]

I support keeping out any culture that is a threat to liberty.

Which is worse? Keeping out one religion while not interfering with those who are already here and practice it or allowing in a culture that will ban all other religions?
(THIS QUESTION NEED NOT BE APPLIED ONLY TO ISLAM, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY RELIGIONS THAT ADVOCATED THE SUPPRESSION OF ALL OTHERS)

Christians do that too (and you are actually doing that here yourself). Maybe they should be restricted as well.

[Sonny Tufts]

the guidelines prohibited the government from punishing anyone who acted “in accordance with one’s religious beliefs”.

What are the chances that Sessions will instruct DOJ attorneys not to prosecute someone who smokes pot, drops acid, eats magic mushrooms (assume he's not an Indian) or refuses to pay federal income tax and defends on the grounds that such action is part of his religious beliefs?

[Swordsmyth]

Christians do that too. Maybe they should be restricted as well.

What current Christian sect advocates the use of force to suppress all other religions?
What country do they dominate?

If you can answer those questions you may have a case to bar immigration from such a country.

[Swordsmyth]

What are the chances that Sessions will instruct DOJ attorneys not to prosecute someone who smokes pot, drops acid, eats magic mushrooms (assume he's not an Indian) or refuses to pay federal income tax and defends on the grounds that such action is part of his religious beliefs?

I don't know but the defendant will be in a better position to make such a defense if the government is on record saying that religious freedom is more important than laws and regulations.