Alliance Defending Freedom Asks Court to Reconsider Challenge to Virginia Values Act
Virginia | August 23, 2021
The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) wants the Loudoun County Circuit Court to reconsider its decision to dismiss a legal challenge to the Virginia Values Act. On Friday, the ADF filed a Motion to Reconsider Calvary Road Baptist Church v. Herring, a lawsuit that claims the VVA and an associated insurance law violate constitutionally-protected freedoms through hiring non-discrimination laws.
The ADF argues that the organizations are already suffering harm because they risk fines up to $100,000 per violation of the law.
“The Virginia Values Act, enacted in July 2020, compels churches, religious schools, and Christian ministries to hire employees who do not share their beliefs on marriage, sexuality, and gender identity – and even bans them from publishing their biblical beliefs on these topics,” an ADF press release explains. “A companion law requires the ministries and others like them to include in employee health care plans coverage for sex reassignment and ‘gender affirming’ surgeries that run contrary to their beliefs. It also prohibits the ministries from offering sex-specific Bible studies and youth activities.”
The court dismissed the challenge since there hadn’t yet been any infringement against the churches and schools in the suit. Still, the judge emphasized that the dismissal was due to a problem with the standing, not the merits of the case. In the Friday filing, the ADF argues that recent federal appellate cases have recognized the ability to file cases in similar situations…. (Excerpts from the Virginia Star)