Dr. Bill Katip

Grace College and Seminary President Dr. Bill Katip testified on Monday, March 16, in favor of the Proposed Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act, also known as Senate Bill 101.

The bill, which passed with a 9-4 vote by the Indiana House Judiciary Committee, will now progress to the full House for consideration.

Supporters of the hotly debated bill claim the bill will legally protect those with strong religious beliefs, particularly in the case of business owners who would like to refrain providing services for same-sex couples.

Those in opposition to the bill argue the bill would allow for discrimination against same-sex couples.

Katip noted a brief history of Grace and its many charitable ties throughout the community. In addition, he noted the value of religion for the nation’s economy and charities, explaining the absence of religion would leave many without jobs, needed donations and acts of goodwill as well as causing a loss of income from religious institutions. Ron Manahan, former Grace president, also testified on behalf of the school at the Indiana Senate Judiciary Committee.

Katip stressed his support of the bill is not the support of deepening animosity, but the securing of religious freedom in Indiana.

“Prolonged and deepening animosity is corrosive and destructive,” stated Katip. “This is not what Grace College and Seminary is all about. This is not what we mean by religious freedom. This bill does not go in that direction.

“I urge approval of this worthwhile bill to secure religious freedom in Indiana for the sake of religious institutions like ours whose very mission is threatened when religious freedom is eroded through legislative decisions.”

To view Katip’s full testimony, click here.