Changes

There is a misinterpretation of a sermon by Jesus, who told people not to "hate" their enemies used in favor of the argument. What hate crimes legislation ignores is that Jesus never hesitated to condemn sin and frequently criticized wrongdoers.

There is a misinterpretation of a sermon by Jesus, who told people not to "hate" their enemies used in favor of the argument. What hate crimes legislation ignores is that Jesus never hesitated to condemn sin and frequently criticized wrongdoers.

In a U.S. government report released in 2016, Martin R. Castro, the chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, stated that "The phrases “religious liberty” and “religious freedom” will stand for nothing except hypocrisy so long as they remain code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy or any form of intolerance."<ref>Showalter, Brandon (Setpember 9, 2016). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/religious-freedom-code-word-bigotry-christian-supremacy-us-civil-rights-commissioner-martin-castro-169370/ Religious Freedom Is 'Code Word' for Bigotry, Christian Supremacy, US Civil Rights Commissioner Says]. ''The Christian Post''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Kellner, Mark A. (September 8, 2016). [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/sep/8/religious-freedom-religious-liberty-just-code-word/ ‘Religious freedom,’ ‘liberty’ just ‘code words’ for intolerance, U.S. Civil Rights chairman says]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://religionnews.com/2016/09/08/chairman-of-u-s-commission-on-civil-rights-calls-the-phrases-religious-liberty-and-religious-freedom-code-words-for-discrimination-intolerance-racism-s/ Chairman of U.S. Commission on Civil Rights calls the phrases ‘religious liberty’ and ‘religious freedom’ code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, and Christian supremacy]. ''Religion News Service''. September 8, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Carter, Joe (September 13, 2016). [https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/u.s.-civil-rights-commission-religious-freedom-is-code-word-for-racism-homophobia-and-christian-supremacy U.S. Civil Rights Commission: ‘Religious Freedom’ Is Code Word for Racism, Homophobia, and ‘Christian Supremacy’]. ''The Gospel Coalition''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref>

In a U.S. government report released in 2016, Martin R. Castro, the chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, stated that "The phrases “religious liberty” and “religious freedom” will stand for nothing except hypocrisy so long as they remain code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy or any form of intolerance."<ref>Showalter, Brandon (Setpember 9, 2016). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/religious-freedom-code-word-bigotry-christian-supremacy-us-civil-rights-commissioner-martin-castro-169370/ Religious Freedom Is 'Code Word' for Bigotry, Christian Supremacy, US Civil Rights Commissioner Says]. ''The Christian Post''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Kellner, Mark A. (September 8, 2016). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/sep/8/religious-freedom-religious-liberty-just-code-word/ ‘Religious freedom,’ ‘liberty’ just ‘code words’ for intolerance, U.S. Civil Rights chairman says]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://religionnews.com/2016/09/08/chairman-of-u-s-commission-on-civil-rights-calls-the-phrases-religious-liberty-and-religious-freedom-code-words-for-discrimination-intolerance-racism-s/ Chairman of U.S. Commission on Civil Rights calls the phrases ‘religious liberty’ and ‘religious freedom’ code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, and Christian supremacy]. ''Religion News Service''. September 8, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Carter, Joe (September 13, 2016). [https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/u.s.-civil-rights-commission-religious-freedom-is-code-word-for-racism-homophobia-and-christian-supremacy U.S. Civil Rights Commission: ‘Religious Freedom’ Is Code Word for Racism, Homophobia, and ‘Christian Supremacy’]. ''The Gospel Coalition''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref>

In 2014, the mayor of [[Houston]], a leftist and the first openly-homosexual mayor of the city, briefly issued subpoenas on pastors, ordering them to turn over sermons concerning homosexuality.<ref>Starnes, Todd (October 14, 2014). [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/14/city-houston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermons.html City of Houston demands pastors turn over sermons]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Starnes, Todd (October 29, 2014). [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/29/houston-mayor-drops-bid-to-subpoena-pastors-sermons.html Houston mayor drops bid to subpoena pastors' sermons]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Hallowell, Billy (August 3, 2015). [http://www.theblaze.com/news/2015/08/03/houston-pastors-hit-back-against-mayor-with-lawsuit-alleging-their-religious-freedoms-were-trampled/ Houston Gov’t Subpoenaed Pastors’ Sermons. Now, They’re Fighting Back.] ''The Blaze''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref>

In 2014, the mayor of [[Houston]], a leftist and the first openly-homosexual mayor of the city, briefly issued subpoenas on pastors, ordering them to turn over sermons concerning homosexuality.<ref>Starnes, Todd (October 14, 2014). [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/14/city-houston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermons.html City of Houston demands pastors turn over sermons]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Starnes, Todd (October 29, 2014). [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/29/houston-mayor-drops-bid-to-subpoena-pastors-sermons.html Houston mayor drops bid to subpoena pastors' sermons]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Hallowell, Billy (August 3, 2015). [http://www.theblaze.com/news/2015/08/03/houston-pastors-hit-back-against-mayor-with-lawsuit-alleging-their-religious-freedoms-were-trampled/ Houston Gov’t Subpoenaed Pastors’ Sermons. Now, They’re Fighting Back.] ''The Blaze''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref>

==Attempts to censor conservative and right-wing views==

==Attempts to censor conservative and right-wing views==

Numerous mainstream American conservative organizations have been labeled "hate groups" by the Left.<ref>Richardson, Valerie (August 17, 2017). [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/aug/17/hate-group-map-lists-mainstream-conservative-organ/ Mainstream conservative groups alarmed to be found on ‘hate map’]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved August 18, 2017.</ref>

Numerous mainstream American conservative organizations have been labeled "hate groups" by the Left.<ref>Richardson, Valerie (August 17, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/aug/17/hate-group-map-lists-mainstream-conservative-organ/ Mainstream conservative groups alarmed to be found on ‘hate map’]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved August 18, 2017.</ref>

In 2016, [[Geert Wilders]] was convicted of making statements against Moroccan immigrants that were supposedly offensive (it was not a criminal conviction, but one could reasonably argue he shouldn't have been charged in the first place).<ref>Goins-Phillips, Tré (December 9, 2016). [http://www.theblaze.com/news/2016/12/09/dutch-politician-convicted-of-inciting-discrimination-for-criticizing-muslim-immigration/ Dutch politician convicted of ‘inciting discrimination’ for criticizing Muslim immigration]. ''The Blaze''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref>

In 2016, [[Geert Wilders]] was convicted of making statements against Moroccan immigrants that were supposedly offensive (it was not a criminal conviction, but one could reasonably argue he shouldn't have been charged in the first place).<ref>Goins-Phillips, Tré (December 9, 2016). [http://www.theblaze.com/news/2016/12/09/dutch-politician-convicted-of-inciting-discrimination-for-criticizing-muslim-immigration/ Dutch politician convicted of ‘inciting discrimination’ for criticizing Muslim immigration]. ''The Blaze''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref>