Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke claimed religious organizations receiving tax benefits from the federal government should be required to “follow the law” when it comes to discriminating against gay and transgender people.
Backtracking on his claim earlier this month that religious organizations should be taxed if they did not perform gay marriage, O’Rourke said churches and other religious nonprofits should maintain their tax-exempt status, but that they should be legally obliged not to discriminate against gay and transgender people.
Citing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, O’Rourke claimed on Sunday that regardless of religious values any organization should be required to adhere to the same laws meant to curb discrimination in housing, transportation, and employment. “They must follow the laws of this country, including the law that prohibits discrimination.”
“I want to make sure that we enforce those laws,” O’Rourke said. “I’m going to make sure those continue to be our values in this country, that we uphold the law, but that we also respect the freedom to pursue those religious beliefs as you see fit.”
The former Texas congressman stoked controversy when he asserted that religious institutions should be stripped of their tax-exempt status if they do not endorse gay marriage.
Several lawmakers of both parties condemned O’Rourke’s comments, noting his position contradicted the religious liberties afforded in the Bill of Rights. Republican Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse said O’Rourke’s position was “bigoted nonsense” that “would target a lot of sincere Christians, Jews, and Muslims … This extreme intolerance is un-American.”
