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REPORT: National Association Of Evangelicals Supports Religious Freedom Protections In Respect For Marriage Act

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Melanie Wilcox Contributor
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The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) voiced support for the religious freedom protections in the Respect for Marriage Act.

In a November letter to Democratic Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins, NAE President Walter Kim wrote, “Your efforts, if successful, will produce the first significant bipartisan legislation in many years advancing religious freedom for all, including for those who hold traditional views on marriage.” (RELATED: Biden Invites ‘Non Binary Drag Artist’ To The White House For Bill Signing)

The “Respect for Marriage Act,” which President Joe Biden signed into law Tuesday at the White House, does not force states to recognize same-sex marriage, but mandates the recognition of same-sex marriages across state lines. The federal government also has to give the same benefits, like Social Security survivor benefits, to same-sex marriages.

The legislation was also amended to include federal protections for religious beliefs and freedoms, stating that the legislation may not be used to “diminish or abrogate a religious liberty or conscience protection otherwise available to an individual or organization underthe Constitution of the United States or Federal law.”

“It is really quite significant that the Congress recognized, and today the president signed, legislation that said people with views like ours of marriage between one man and one woman are honorable people who need to be respected and they should not have their faith or their practices challenged,” Elder Jack N. Gerard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said, according to Deseret News.

Editor’s Note: This article previously stated that a representative of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) attended the signing of the bill, citing another publication. A spokesperson for NAE said no representative attended.