Attorney General Jeff Sessions advised federal agencies to follow 20 principles of religious freedom, including a recognition that religious employers can discriminate in hiring, as he elaborated on an executive order President Donald Trump signed in May.
The guidance issued by Sessions Oct. 6 says that “religious organizations may choose to employ only persons whose beliefs and conduct are consistent with the organizations’ religious precepts.” A gay rights advocate said it “put a thumb on the scale” in favor of those who want to use religious liberty arguments to discriminate.
“This is an attempt by the administration to pressure agencies ...