MARCH 2024 | Volume 2 | Number 3
B“eware the ides of March!” warned the soothsayer in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, but to no avail.
In this edition of the ACCS Legal Update, sent out shortly after the anniversary of Julius Caesar’s assassination, we will discuss what appears to be a disturbing “conspiracy” of another kind. It is one which should be kept on the radar of every Christian.
On February 6th, 2024, Rep. Anna Moeller introduced a disturbing piece of legislation to the Illinois House of Representatives. The legislation (HB4867) would amend the current Illinois Human Rights Act, adding “to the definition of unlawful discrimination to include discrimination of reproductive health decisions.”
No Religious Exemption
To begin with, the bill itself does not allow for a religious exemption, which means that the reason for discrimination is irrelevant. In this case, pro-life employers would be prohibited from hiring exclusively pro-life employees, even if the desire to do so arises from religious conviction.
Conceivably, churches could be prevented from hiring only individuals who agreed with their beliefs on sexual and reproductive health. Christian schools could not hire only those who would teach and live in line with their convictions about the sanctity of life. Even pro-life women’s centers could find it illegal to hire only pro-life employees.
Broad Wording
Further, the amendment’s wording is extremely broad. In Rep. Moeller’s synopsis, she writes, “Reproductive health decisions mean any decision by a person affecting the use or intended use of health care, goods, or services related to reproductive processes, functions, and systems, including, but not limited to, family planning, pregnancy testing, and contraception; fertility or sterilization care; miscarriage; continuation or termination of pregnancy; prenatal, intranatal, and postnatal care.”
A host of controversial issues are involved here: contraception, in-vitro fertilization (IVF), sterilization, abortion, partial-birth abortion, and more. In fact, the amendment goes so far as to include “unlawful discrimination against a person because of the person’s association with another person’s reproductive health decisions.” Such language is broad enough to encompass everything from a man supporting his spouse or partner in securing an abortion (or any of the other “reproductive health decisions” listed above) to pro-abortion advocacy by an employee.
Who Could Be Affected
While the wording of the amendment does not specifically target Christians, it is difficult to see how Rep. Moeller’s amendment would affect anyone other than Christian employers who wish to hire employees who share their beliefs and practices regarding reproductive issues.
Granted, there may be some protection in the distinction between churches and other employers, and between public and private schools. However, those distinctions are the subject of constant legal battles, and new precedent can be created with a single lawsuit. Additionally, Christian business owners in Illinois would have no legal protection against this amendment.
Finally, because American law is established by precedent, the passing of HB4867 into Illinois law may serve to inspire other states to follow suit. So, while this amendment would only directly affect citizens in Illinois, it is unlikely that it would remain confined there.
What To Do
- Pray. Though we often forget, this is the most we can do in the face of such challenges.
- If you are a citizen, church leader, or school leader in Illinois, you may submit a “witness slip” in opposition to the amendment.
- If you live in Illinois, contact your state officials to voice your concerns over HB4867. You can find them here.
- Find out more about Alliance for Defending Freedom at the link below.
Grace & Peace,
Brian Phillips, Ed.D.
If you are in search of legal advice for you or your school, please consider the following resources: Brotherhood Mutual and Alliance Defending Freedom
Brian Phillips is the pastor of Holy Trinity Reformed Church (CREC – Concord, NC), teaches Rhetoric at Oaks Classical Christian Academy (Albemarle, NC), and is Board Vice Chairman for New Aberdeen College. Brian has also served as the Director of Consulting for The Circe Institute, Head of Upper School at Covenant Classical School (Concord, NC), and was an adjunct faculty member of Belmont Abbey College.
Dr. Phillips has an M.A. in Theological Studies, an M.A. in Classical Studies, an Ed.D. in Classical Education, and completed paralegal training at Duke University. He is also the author/editor of several books, including Sunday Mornings: An Introduction to Biblical Worship and the Canon Classics Guides to Dante’s Inferno and the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Brian and his wife, Shannon, live in North Carolina with their four children and their German Shepherd, Ajax the Great.