Case Involving Rights of Christian Counselors May Reach Supreme Court
- Updated Feb 10, 2017
A legal case involving the religious freedom rights of California state counselors may be heard by the Supreme Court.
Charisma News reports that Christian counselors in the state have been battling against Senate Bill 1172 for nearly five years. According to the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI), which is representing the counselors, “The bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2012, requires state-licensed mental health providers, including psychologists, psychiatrists, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors and many others to refrain from counseling youth in ways that differ from state orthodoxy on LGBTQ issues.”
The Pacific Justice Institute and its Christian clients are hopeful that their case may be heard by the Supreme Court since the Court recently asked for additional information regarding the lawsuit.
Brad Dacus of PJI stated, "The state orthodoxy mandated by SB 1172 raises serious concerns for religious freedom and privacy, and we are glad the Supreme Court is taking our petition seriously. Many young people who struggle with same-sex attraction or gender confusion want to hear something different than political correctness on LGBTQ issues—they want to hear biblical truth spoken in love. They absolutely should have the right to seek professional help, including church counseling, consistent with their values."
Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com
Publication date: February 10, 2017
