Human Rights Commission approves bill allowing churches to prohibit the presence of gay people.
The bill, authored by Congressman Washington Reis (PMDB-RJ), was reported by Congressman Jair Bolsonaro (PP-RJ) and approved this Wednesday in the committee chaired by Pastor Marco Feliciano; the proposal aims to prevent religious leaders from being criminalized if they refuse to perform same-sex marriages, baptisms, or other ceremonies for children of gay couples, or even accept the presence of these individuals in religious temples.
247 - The Human Rights and Minorities Commission, chaired by federal deputy and pastor Marco Feliciano (PSC), approved on Wednesday (16) Bill 1411/11, which exempts any religious organization from accepting the presence of homosexual couples in its temples. The proposal aims to prevent religious people from being criminalized if they refuse to perform homosexual marriages, baptisms or other ceremonies for children of gay couples or even accept the presence of these people in religious temples.
Authored by Congressman Washington Reis (PMDB-RJ), the proposal adds an article to Law 7.716/89, which defines crimes resulting from prejudice. Currently, the law establishes that practicing, inducing, or inciting discrimination or prejudice based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, or national origin is a crime, subject to imprisonment from one to three years and a fine.
The proposal, which was reported by Congressman Jair Bolsonaro (PP-RJ), also makes it clear that religious organizations do not commit a crime if they do not accept, in their services, the presence of citizens who violate their values, doctrines, beliefs, and liturgies.
According to Washington Reis, this rule has been used in lawsuits filed by homosexuals who feel discriminated against by religious entities. "Due attention should be paid to the fact that homosexual practice is described in many religious doctrines as conduct that contradicts their beliefs. Therefore, such religious organizations should be granted the right to freedom of expression," the congressman states in the justification for the proposal.
The rapporteur for the bill in the Human Rights Commission, Congressman Jair Bolsonaro (PP-RJ), defended the right of churches to reject people who do not follow the values of the religion. "Religious organizations have a recognized right to define their own rules of operation and even to list moral and social conduct that should be followed by their members. Affiliation with a religious institution constitutes an individual choice that implies respect for the rules of each entity," he argued.
The bill is being processed in a conclusive manner and will still be evaluated by the Constitution, Justice and Citizenship Committee, including on its merits.