Religious Liberty Protection Act: a step in the right direction
By Religion Today (www.ReligionToday.com), July 16, 1999
The Religious Liberty Protection Act is a “step in the right direction toward restoring religious liberties,” the Christian Coalition’s Chris Freund told Religion Today.
On July 16 the House of Representatives passed the legislation designed to prevent state and local governments from infringing on religious expression by a vote of 306-118, the Associated Press said. The measure that still must pass the Senate requires lawmakers to prove a “compelling governmental interest” before imposing a “substantial burden” on a person’s religious practices.
“Every day Americans are wrongfully denied an opportunity to practice their religion according to the dictates of conscience,” said Rep. Charles Canady (R-Fla.), its chief sponsor. Examples range from a woman denied a job because her faith forbids loyalty oaths to Muslim firefighters who were told they had to shave their beards. A large number of religious and civil rights groups supported the measure and the Clinton Administration has gone on record in favor of it.
The act is the latest attempt by lawmakers in a 10-year effort to protect religious expression in the face of government interference. The Supreme Court in 1990 ruled that states and local authorities can make laws restricting religious practices for almost any reason, the AP said. Congress responded by passing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 1993, seeking to make lawmakers demonstrate a compelling interest for such interference, but the high court ruled that Congress exceeded its authority in passing the law. The new law includes different language that may pass the Supreme Court’s standards.” This measure is constitutionally sound and will help safeguard the free expression of religious faith in this country,” the American Center for Law and Justice’s Jay Sekulow said.