An update on the California situation. . .

Facing increasing opposition --including a multi-faith statement in opposition, a planned protest at the Capitol, and targeted PAC spending at the bill’s proponents -- the sponsor of the California bill has pulled the most dangerous provisions in the legislation.  That is, namely, the punitive threat to the tax exemption to schools who did not endorse the full measure of the anti-discrimination laws (including GLBTQ as well):

Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) is removing a provision of his bill that sought to take away the exemption of religious schools to anti-discrimination laws. Instead, he will press forward with the amended bill that would still require such schools to disclose if they have an exemption and report to the state when students are expelled for violating morality codes.

That this is a victory, there is little doubt.  But to those who believe the war is over, the legislator indicated he still intends to push forward with legislation that “names and shames” religious colleges and requires them to report their disciplinary actions to the state.  In other words, while he cannot get the punishment of his bill passed at this time, he will not relent on his cause and all those colleges and universities are on notice that he may have lost this battle but he is not surrendering in his war against freedom of religion.

You and I should take note.  There is no victory yet, only a momentary slowdown in the press to strip away all religious freedom from any and every institution that is not a congregation or church body.  That is the clear intent of Obama's administration; it will surely be continued by Hillary Clinton if she is elected (since she has said several times that religious objections cannot be allowed to stand in the way of her vision of civil justice).  The assault against agencies of the churches will continue and, if successful, perhaps to the churches themselves.