diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 58fc61c19..9877ded1c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -137,7 +137,6 @@ The following fields are available in `legislators-current.yaml` and `legislator
 * bio
 	* birthday: The legislator's birthday, in YYYY-MM-DD format.
 	* gender: The legislator's gender, either "M" or "F". (In historical data, we've worked backwards from [history.house.gov's Women in Congress feature](http://history.house.gov/People/Search?filter=6).)
-	* religion: The legislator's religion.
 
 * terms (one entry for each election)
 	* type: The type of the term. Either "sen" for senators or "rep" for representatives and delegates to the House.
diff --git a/test/validate.py b/test/validate.py
index 1cbf29a46..57041ecce 100755
--- a/test/validate.py
+++ b/test/validate.py
@@ -60,7 +60,8 @@ def error(message):
 name_keys = { "first", "middle", "nickname", "last", "suffix", "official_full" }
 
 # bio keys
-bio_keys = { "gender", "birthday", "religion" }
+bio_keys = { "gender", "birthday" }
+old_allowed_other_bio_keys = { "religion" }
 
 # get today as a date instance
 def now():
@@ -189,7 +190,7 @@ def check_name(name, is_other_names=False):
 
 def check_bio(bio):
   for key, value in bio.items():
-    if key not in bio_keys:
+    if key not in (bio_keys | old_allowed_other_bio_keys):
       error("%s is not a valid key in bio." % key)
     elif not isinstance(value, str):
       error(rtyaml.dump({ key: value }) + " has an invalid data type.")