Statement by the Rt. Rev. Brian R. Seage,
Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi
HB 1523 Press Release
March 24, 2016
By the Rt. Rev. Brian R. Seage
The Mississippi State Senate has on its calendar an unwise, unnecessary and imprudent bill. I would urge that it be allowed to die at the coming deadline for legislative action.
House Bill 1523 would codify discrimination, rather than prevent discrimination as claimed in its title.
One of the hallmarks of our system of laws is a wise principle of separating religious beliefs and practices from the statutes which are enacted into law. This “Trojan horse” would provide protection under sectarian religious pretense for those who would choose to discriminate against citizens who have the same rights as any of us. The bill would clearly violate the “equal protection” clause of the 14th Amendment to our nation’s Constitution and would likely lead to our state spending its limited funds for an unsuccessful defense in federal courts.
I am aware that the world is changing and familiar norms are fading, partially because of the Supreme Court and partially because of evolving awareness and understanding. I know that such change is painful for many, but we must be mindful of the pain of those who have suffered under old structures. Our baptismal covenant asks us to “strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.” This is often a challenge, but God calls us to do no less.
I pray that our time and energy will be invested in building a just society that recognizes the gifts of all its people, molding an educational system that is second-to-none, providing healthcare to the needy, and developing an economy that encourages and rewards all our people. During this Holy Week my prayers continue for our elected leaders. I give thanks for their commitment and passion. May the miracle of Easter bring blessings and hope to all.