Should religious organizations in Minnesota be worried about their freedom to hire employees who meet their mission?
State Representative Steve Jacob (R-Altura) said a recent action in the Minnesota House suggests a liberty they once enjoyed is gone for good.
“Anything that stands in the way of people being able to worship as they see fit is clearly unconstitutional,” Jacob said. “We have always had the constitutional right that protects our religious freedom, and it appears legislative Democrats purposely made this move in order to challenge these rights.”
Before last year, when gender identity was included within the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) definition of sexual orientation, the still-existing religious exemption for sexual orientation covered gender identity claims as well. When a new, separate definition of gender identity was passed into law by legislative Democrats last year, there was no corresponding religious exemption added.
Assuming the change was a legislative oversight, a proposal was brought forward in a recent House committee hearing that would restore the status quo as it existed from 1993-2023. Jacob said the amendment language simply reinstituted the religious exemption in the MHRA protecting religious organizations and faith-based schools against claims of gender identity discrimination. That exemption ensures that religious organizations and faith-based schools can, among other things, hire teachers and ministers consistent with their vocation and values.
During the hearing, a broad coalition of testifiers came forward to support the amendment to protect religious liberty in our state, including the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition, Agudath Israel of Minnesota, and the Islamic Center of Minnesota.
After hearing their testimony, Jacob said Democrats on the committee shot down the amendment, and one member who opposed the measure proceeded to insult members of the religious community who testified in favor of the plan.
Jacob said at least one faith-based school is already facing an employment complaint at the department of human rights due to the exemption being removed.
“We have the separation of church and state for a reason, and Minnesota’s government should not be involved in approving mandates that restrict religious liberties,” Jacob said. “It is a sad day when one political party decides it is acceptable for government to infringe on the constitutional rights of Minnesotans, yet here we are.”