Support legitimate and necessary religious free exercise -- not House Bill 1063 -- and oppose unnecessary and excessive discrimination not tied to religious liberty. Current Illinois law protects religious liberty. First, religious institutions can discriminate in hiring of all employees on grounds of religion (thus requiring all staff members of the faith). Second, religious institutions can discriminate in hiring on any grounds (race, gender, sexual orientation) of those in ministerial positions that formulate or transmit church doctrine.

HB1063, sponsored by Representative David Reis (R-Olney), goes beyond these two necessary and appropriate carve-outs to the ban on discrimination in hiring in two ways. It allows religious institutions to discriminate on any grounds in hiring of non-ministerial staff, thus allowing churches to refuse to hire female or African-American secretaries or janitors. It also allows non-religious organizations to discriminate in hiring on any grounds, thus allowing a social service agency that works in conjunction with a church to fire staff based on race, gender or sexual orientation.