WASHINGTON, D.C. — When Democrats attached a controversial hate-crime measure to a the defense appropriations bill last week, some representatives, including Minnesota’s John Kline, suggested that it would make it a federal crime to give a sermon denouncing homosexuality.

The fact-checking website PolitiFact, however, found this claim to be false.

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act would expand the definition of federal hate crimes to those committed because of a victim’s sexual orientation.

The bill passed the House last week 281 to 146.

Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen voted in favor of the legislation along with Democratic Reps. Tim Walz, Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison and Jim Oberstar. Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson joined Republican Reps. Kline and Michele Bachmann in voting against the bill.

“I disdain racism, sexism and bigotry,” said Kline, whose son has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, in an Oct. 8 press release. “But under this legislation, any pastor, preacher, priest, rabbi or imam who gives a sermon out of their moral traditions about sexual practices could be found guilty of a federal crime.”

But PolitiFact reports that language was added to the measure to address these concerns and to protect First Amendment rights.

“We certainly think it's fair for Republicans to criticize the decision to add this controversial hate crime provision to a bill that funds the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,” PolitiFact concludes. “But we also think it's wrong for opponents of the bill to again raise the scare tactic that it might lead to the prosecution of preachers who condemn homosexuality from the pulpit. The language of the bill makes abundantly clear that it would not. And we rule Kline's statement False.”

Check out the full analysis here.