INFONET: CIVIL RIGHTS/CIVIL LIBERTIES GROUP

May 11, 1999

Yesterday, Representatives Charles Canaday (R-FL) and Anthony Weiner (D-NY) led a bipartisan group of members of the U.S. House of Representatives and introduced the Religious Liberty Protection Act. The Religious Liberty Protection Act would prohibit state and local governments from substantially burdening the free exercise of religion, even unintentionally, unless the government can demonstrate that it possesses a compelling reason to limit religious activity.

It will enable synagogues and other houses of worship to get a fairer hearing when they seek a zoning variance.  It will enable those who object on religious grounds to "loyalty oaths" to seek and obtain jobs that would otherwise require such oaths as a condition of employment. It will, in short, protect minority faiths and their adherents in a variety of situations.

This new legislation has been drafted with the Supreme Court decisions about religious liberty in mind, so that it will withstand constitutional scrutiny.

It is supported by a broad coalition of religious communities and civil rights groups.

This legislation will be on a "fast track" in the House.  The Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution will be holding hearings on this critical legislation on May 12 and 18.  The full Judiciary Committee will hold its hearing on May 19.  A list of committee members can be found here.  Please contact these members over the next several days to express support for the Religious Liberty Protection Act.

Nathan J. Diament
Director, IPA

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