Bishop Robinson, the infamous Episcopal bishop whose own decadent lifestyle sent shock waves through the Anglican Communion and was a major catalyst for its starting to come apart at the seams, has trained his sights on Congress following the imposition of same-sex marriage on all states by the Supreme Court -- something he championed and welcomed.

"It's my hope that the SCOTUS ruling inspires the LGBT community to work for the greater good of all who are oppressed," he crowed when the Supreme Court ruling came down last month. The Episcopal General Convention -- meeting at the time -- quickly passed a resolution which changed the very definition of marriage to eliminate the traditional concept of one man and one women bound together in Holy Matrimony.

"The Episcopal Church has been more welcoming of LGBT people than many denominations and has long been on record as supporting civil marriage for couples of the same gender. But our theology and thinking about the religious sacrament of marriage has been less supportive," he continued. "It's an exciting time to be an American and an Episcopalian."

On June 17, even before the hotly-contested Supreme Court's June 26 ruling on Obergefell v. Hodges, a bill was jointly introduced in the US Senate (S-1598) and the US House of Representatives (HR-2802) and sent to legislative committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means for consideration.

The bill, entitled First Amendment Defense Act, is designed to protect Christians, and others of strong religious beliefs and moral values, from being discriminated against or penalized for following their consciences in not accepting same-sex marriage as the societal norm.

According to a press release by the bill's Congressional sponsors -- US Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) and US Representative Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho) -- if passed into law, the First Amendment Defense Act "would prevent any federal agency from denying a tax exemption, grant, contract, license, or certification to an individual, association, or business based on their belief that marriage is a union between a man and a woman. For example, the bill would prohibit the IRS from stripping a church of its tax exemption for refusing to officiate same-sex weddings."

The First Amendment Defense Act bill's sponsors say that the bill is designed to "prohibit federal intrusion on the rights of conscience."

The First Amendment to the Bill of Rights simply states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

"There's a reason the right to religious liberty appears first in our nation's Bill of Rights," Sen. Lee explained. "The freedom to live and to act in accordance with the dictates of one's conscience and religious convictions is integral to human flourishing, serving as the foundation upon which America has produced the most diverse, tolerant, and stable society the world has ever known.

"Religious freedom is at the heart of what it means to be an American," Rep. Labrador added. "America set the standard for upholding freedom of belief and worship in a diverse society. No American should ever doubt these protections enshrined in the First Amendment."

Retired Episcopal Bishop Vicky Gene Robinson (IX New Hampshire) is having none of it.

"Tell Congress religious liberty doesn't mean LGBT discrimination ..." writes Bishop Robinson and his Jewish cohort in an open petition to The U.S. House of Representatives. "As clergy and faith leaders who serve diverse communities across the United States and are dedicated to affirming the religious freedom of every individual we write to express our opposition to the First Amendment Defense Act." They are hoping for 4,000 signatures by July 27. Their petition is also being hawked on Facebook and Twitter.

"We believe that the First Amendment Defense Act does not respect the spirit of religious liberty -- nor does it reflect fundamental values of treating all people with fairness and equality -- and we therefore strongly oppose this legislation," Robinson and Colter write. "Further, though people of faith are not a monolith and all are not in agreement on whether their faith sanctions LGBT relationships, we cannot in good conscience support legislation that favors one religious viewpoint over another and in the process discriminates against LGBT people, single mothers and unmarried couples."

"Religious freedom is at the heart of what it means to be an American," counters Rep. Labrador. "America set the standard for upholding freedom of belief and worship in a diverse society. No American should ever doubt these protections enshrined in the First Amendment."

There is a fundamental difference of opinion between the progressive religious leaders and Republican congressional lawmakers over whether or not the First Amendment protects Christians' right to follow their religiously formed consciences in the public square.

"The religious freedom of individuals and organizations, including clergy and houses of worship, who object to same-sex marriage are already protected by the First Amendment and federal law -- and we, as clergy and faith leaders, continue to stand by the right of others to hold beliefs that may differ from our own while recognizing that for many of us," Robinson and Colter write.

The "protections" that Bishop Robinson is alluding to don't seem to protect bakeries, florists, photographers and wedding venues from gay rights harassment and law suits from the gay pride crowd nor do those "protections" guard against law suits, governmental sanctions and crippling punitive fines. Too many individuals and faith-based businesses have already been penalized for acting on their deeply held personal beliefs in dealing with gay rights and "marriage equality" issues.

"Our bill ensures that the federal government does not penalize Americans for following their religious beliefs or moral convictions on traditional marriage," Rep. Labrador writes. "Our bill shields against federal intrusion without taking anything away from anyone. In a shifting landscape, it's time that Congress proactively defend this sacred right."

The joint sponsors of the First Amendment Defense Act have a host of other lawmakers behind them. In the Senate 18 other senators co-sponsored the upper house version of the bill and in the House of Representatives 57 congressmen support the filing of the bill.

"The vast majority of Americans today still hold a robust view of religious liberty, yet across the country the right of conscience is threatened by state and local governments that coerce, intimidate, and penalize individuals, associations, and businesses who believe that marriage is a union between a man and a woman," Sen. Lee added. "The First Amendment Defense Act is necessary to ensure that this kind of government excess never occurs at the federal level."

The bill is designed to "prevent discriminatory treatment of any person on the basis of views held with respect to marriage." It notes that "leading legal scholars concur that conflicts between same-sex marriage and religious liberty are real and should be legislatively addressed," and that "protecting religious freedom from Government intrusion is a Government interest of the highest order. Legislatively enacted measures advance this interest by remedying, deterring, and preventing Government interference with religious exercise in a way that complements the protections mandated by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States."

Bishop Robinson doesn't see it that way.

"By opening the door to unprecedented taxpayer-funded discrimination against LGBT people, single mothers and unmarried couples, this legislation does nothing to protect our rights as people of diverse faith traditions and it has the potential to do considerable harm in the name of religion," Robinson and Cotler conclude. "We are also troubled that this bill is so broad it could even prevent the federal government from enforcing longstanding laws designed to combat discrimination and promote equality."

Their Doomsday fear mongering scare tactics scenario sees unwed mothers turned out into the street with their fatherless children and hungry LGBT people being denied a crust of bread at a church-run soup kitchen.

They claim that the First Amendment Defense Act would not be protecting the First Amendment freedom of religion practices but actually would be undermining true religious liberty through preventing the federal government from enforcing longstanding laws designed to combat discrimination and promote equality in an "unprecedented taxpayer-funded discrimination against LGBT people, single mothers and unmarried couples" which would result in homeless shelters or drug treatment programs turning away LGBT people or anyone who has a sexual relationship outside of marriage; hospitals denying dying patients end-of-life visitation from their spouse or designated support person; and permitting government employees to deny services or refusing to provide Veterans or Social Security benefits to the surviving member of a same-sex couple.

The Episcopal bishop and the Jewish civil rights leader also feel that in addition to "single moms being denied shelter beds in name of religious liberty" LGBT discrimination would also spread to allow commercial landlords to violate fair housing laws by refusing housing to a single mother based on the landlord's religious beliefs and allow businesses to violate family medical leave laws by refusing to let a gay or lesbian employee care for a sick spouse.

Latest statics show that there are fewer than ten million Americans who identify as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgendered in a population of 321 million souls of which more than 70 percent of those living in the United States self-identify as Christians.

Vicky Gene Robinson almost single-handed fractured the Anglican Communion with its 7 million adherents by his insistence that his partnered gay relationship was not an impediment to becoming the Bishop of New Hampshire. The Global South recoiled and the fabric of Anglicanism was rent and is continuing to tear.

Now this same Episcopal bishop wants to see that 321 million Americans -- 226 million of whom are Christians -- are held hostage to the miniscule but very vocal gay rights crowd. He wants conservative Christians vilified for their traditional beliefs on marriage and the family in the marketplace if it conflicts with his civil rights as a noncelibate gay man. He does not champion the historic Judeo-Christian view on ethics and moral values and is offended when someone does.

There is a simple way to solve the problem. If someone does not want to bake a specialty cake -- go to another bakery which will ... if a florist doesn't want to provide floral arrangements -- go to another flower shop ... if a photographer isn't interested in making a graven image of a particular event -- find another shutterbug to do the honors ... if a priest or pastor can't or won't solemnize a marriage or bless a civil union -- look around, there are other gay, straight, transgendered, male or female clergypersons in town ...

What right does the "offended" homosexual -- gay or lesbian -- have to sue an honest business into oblivion for consciously choosing not to make rainbow-colored cakes or provide pizza for a Gay Pride soiree, forcing it to shutdown, and strip the owners of their livelihood? Isn't that the greater act of intolerance, bigotry and prejudice; a larger injustice and a form of reverse discrimination against Christians?

In signing the Petition to Congress Bishop Robinson identifies himself as a "Senior Fellow at Auburn Theological Seminary." The 194-year-old New York City-based seminary has Presbyterian roots. It is now a religious activism leadership development institute designed to "equip leaders of faith and moral courage to work for social change in order to heal and repair the world." As a "senior fellow" Bishop Robinson is tasked with helping to "equip faith leaders on the frontlines for justice."

The retired New Hampshire bishop is one of 13 initial members of the Auburn Senior Fellows program. Other like-minded high profile members include: two Jewish women rabbis, a United Methodist woman bishop, a Roman Catholic sister, a Sikh civil rights lawyer, a professor of systematic theology, a member of the Human Rights Campaign, liberal Protestant clergy of various denominational stripes, a female Muslim community activist, and a prolific author all of whom are focused on multi-racial and multi-cultural issues, the LGBT struggle for marriage equality and acceptance, and social and economic justice through loud and vocal political activism.

The First Amendment Defense Act comes on the heels of many incidents where Christians have been unfairly penalized, fined, and even driven out of business for their refusal to participate in lesbian or gay wedding preparations by declining to the make floral arrangements, bake cakes, take pictures, cater the reception, or provide a venue for the nuptials.

Some of the known discriminatory actions against Christians and their businesses include:

The Hitching Post Wedding Chapel in Coeur d'Alene, ID, which was threatened with a $1,000-a-day fine for violating a city ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. The wedding chapel is owned and operated by conservative Christian clergy who were threatened with 180 days in jail for failing to perform a gay wedding. It was described as "the Chapel of Hate" by The Daily Beast, an online cultural news and opinion site, which frequently publishes Bishop Robinson's LGBT tirades. The Hitching Post has countersued the city claiming that its actions were unconstitutional under the First and Fourteenth Amendments;

Liberty Ridge Farms in Schaghticoke, NY, was fined $13,000 for not allowing a lesbian couple to get married on their property;

The New Mexico Human Rights Commission fined professional Albuquerque, NM wedding photographers for not taking pictures at a same-sex ceremony. They were told that violating their religious beliefs to accommodate gay civil rights "is the price of citizenship." The US Supreme Court refused to hear the case;

Ocean Grove Camp Meeting in New Jersey, a United Methodist ministry, was convicted of "discrimination" for refusing to allow lesbians to hold their commitment ceremony at the family-friendly church camp. Ocean Grove no longer allows any weddings to be celebrated at its Jersey Shore camp meeting site;

The state of Hawaii has ordered the Aloha Bed & Breakfast in Honolulu, HI "to provide a room to any same-sex couple who wishes to stay there;"

The Colorado Civil Rights Commission fined Masterpiece Cakes in Lakewood, CO, and the owner faces a year in jail for refusing to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. The owner and staff were ordered by a judge to undergo sensitivity training. The bakery no longer makes wedding cakes and the court continues to scrutinize its customer base.

Arlene's Flowers in Richland, WA is being sued by the Washington State Attorney General under the Consumer Protection Act for not providing flowers for a gay wedding;

The ACLU sued the Timber Creek Bed & Breakfast in Paxton, IL, for "mental and emotional distress" under the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act for not allowing a civil union ceremony to take place at the facility;

The ACLU sued the Wildflower Inn, in Lyndonville, VT, which was fined $30,000 and forced to shut down its wedding reception business for not catering to a lesbian couple;

The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries fined Sweet Cakes by Melissa, a bakery in Grisham, OR, $135,000 by the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries for after declining to bake for a gay wedding. The owners are successfully raising funds in a social media campaign in an effort to keep their business afloat.

The LGBT crowd is boycotting Victoria's Cake Cottage in Des Moines, IA, as being homophobic and bigoted for refusing provide a cake for a gay wedding;

Fleur Cakes in Mt. Hood, OR, is being branded as "Tea Party fascists" and boycotted for refusing to provide a gay wedding cake;

Just Cookies in Indianapolis, IN, was charged with violating Indianapolis' Anti-Discriminatory Ordinance for refusing to fill a special order for rainbow cookies for the National Coming Out Day celebration, which is an LGBT-oriented Human Rights Campaign event; another Indianapolis bakery, the 111 Cakery, was forced to close its doors following a firestorm of protest when it refused to provide a gay wedding cake;

Hands On Originals, a Christian T-shirt shop in Lexington, KY, was charged by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County (Kentucky) Human Rights Commission of violating the Lexington Fairness Ordinance. The shop was ordered to print pro-homosexual messages on Gay Pride T-shirts for the Gay and Lesbian Services Organization of Lexington. The owners were also forced to take diversity training;

The Twilight Room Annex, a bar in Portland, OR, was fined $400,000 under the Oregon Equality Act for excluding transsexual men -- dressed as women and calling themselves the "T-girls" -- from using the women's restroom; and

Memories Pizza in Walkerton, IN, was forced to temporarily close its doors for refusing to cater to gay weddings. The staff received death threats after a negative social media campaign was launched against them. With donations from a social media campaign, the restaurant re-opened on April 9, 2015.

Standing on their religious convictions, county clerks in Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Indiana, and other states are refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses. They face loss of employment and legal retribution by the ACLU, their county and their state.

The Roman Catholic Church has ceased operating successful adoption agencies in several states because it opposes adoption by homosexual couples.

A&E network temporarily suspended "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson, an outspoken Evangelical Christian, when he stated in a Gentlemen's Quarterlymagazine interview that he believed "homosexuality is a sin." A massive public backlash forced the network to retreat from its stance and reinstate Robertson but the network launched a campaign of public service announcements to promote "tolerance and acceptance among all people" as a counter to Robertson's Christian views.

Fox Sports Southwest fired former ESPN sports commentator Craig James, after only one show, for his personal comments defending traditional marriage in his failed bid for the US Senate seat from Texas. The seat was won by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) who is one of the co-sponsors of the Senate bill S-1598.

Mary Ann Mueller is a journalist living in Texas. She is a regular contributor to VirtueOnline.