Oregon Civil-Unions Bill will Lead to a "Collision of Church and State"

An Oregon Civil Unions bill has passed the Senate and is now before the House. Attempts are being made to provide hiring and firing exceptions for specific religious organizations. Many have concerns that the ambiguity built into Senate Bill 1000 will lead to religious freedom lawsuits.

Senator Ted Ferrioli commented, "An exclusion for religions ought to simply say that 'Nothing in this law shall effect.' It does not do that. When you go to a list, you've failed. It leaves a boundary. The boundary leaves ambiguity. Ambiguity leads to litigation." - "a collision of church and state."

Provisions in Senate's civil-unions bill may prompt lawsuits, conference says