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"Um, yes... I'd still
like to work in your soup kitchen." |
Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination
in employment based on race, national origin, sex, or religion.
On 25 July, the US House of Representatives carved an exception
to the Act when it passed another act that said certain employers
could discriminate on the basis of religion. If those employers
don't want to hire Jews, they don't have to. If they want, they
can post Help Wanted signs that say, "Jews need not apply."
Which employers?
Head Start providers. If the School
Readiness Act becomes law as is, Christian groups that provide
services under the Head Start program can openly and actively discriminate
against Jews. For instance, they could fire employees who don't
believe that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. President Bush supports
the legislation.
Representative
Lynn Woolsey (D - California) warned of the consequences. "Not only
could prospective teachers lose job opportunities, but much-beloved
long-time teachers could be fired simply because they don't share
the religious affiliation of their employer," Woolsey said.
Representative
Barney Frank (D - Massachusetts) expressed amazement. "What is this,
the Taliban?" He suggested the bill be renamed "the Anti-Heretic
and Infidel Association Act."
This past May,
the House passed the Workforce
Reinvestment and Adult Education Act which allows certain organizations
that receive federal funds to discriminate against Jews. Last December,
President Bush issued an executive order authorizing federal agencies
to discriminate against Jews.
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