Subject: oppose S.893, the Workplace Religious Freedom Act To: "The American Civil Liberties Union" From: "The American Civil Liberties Union" Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 18:45:12 -0400 (EDT) Thank you for using The American Civil Liberties Union Mail System Message sent to the following recipients: Senator Kennedy Senator Kerry Message text follows: Matthew Belmonte [address] June 17, 2004 [recipient address was inserted here] [recipient name was inserted here], I urge you to oppose the Workplace Religious Freedom Act (S. 893). This legislation is so badly written that it could undermine civil rights protections in the workplace -- and make health care less accessible, more discriminatory and riskier. The Santorum legislation could gut employer’s nondiscrimination policies that go beyond the minimum that federal law requires. Many employers have their own civil rights policies and employee training that provide more protection than the law minimally requires against racial, sexual and religious harassment -- and include categories such as sexual orientation and marital status. Employees could use the Santorum bill to claim that their religion requires them to flout these civil rights policies. The bill could also bolster the claims of employees that they do not have to comply with state and local civil rights laws that protect against sexual orientation or marital status discrimination. The Santorum legislation would strengthen the hand of police officers who want to pick and choose those whom they will protect, and health care workers who could abandon patients because their care conflicts with the worker’s religious beliefs. Employees would be even more likely to claim that their religion prohibits them from providing contraceptive care or HIV prevention counseling. Once again, I urge you to oppose the Workplace Religious Freedom Act (S 893). Sincerely, Matthew Belmonte