|
June
25, 2002
Union Of Orthodox Jewish Congregations
Applauds Senate Sponsors Of Workplace Religious Freedom
Bill; Hopes For Senate Action Soon
The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America –
the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization representing
almost 1,000 congregations nationwide -- joined today with Senators John
Kerry (D-MA) and Rick Santorum (R-PA) at a Capitol Hill press conference
to promote the Workplace Religious Freedom Act (“WRFA”), recently
introduced in the U.S. Senate. The legislation will amend federal civil
rights laws to reinstate protections for religious employees in their
workplaces that have been undermined by adverse court rulings.
WRFA will require employers to accommodate the religious observances of
their employees as long as providing such accommodations will not impose
an “undue hardship” upon the employer. Thus, employers would be encouraged
to afford employees flexible work shifts so that they may observe
religious holy days and permit employees to wear religiously required garb
at work.
To date, the legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Joe Lieberman
(D-Ct), Tim Hutchinson (R-Ar), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md), Gordon Smith
(R-Or), Patty Murray (D-Wa), Sam Brownback (R-Ks), Hillary Clinton (D-NY),
John Ensign (R-Nv), Jon Corzine (D-NJ), Larry Craig (R-Id), John Edwards
(D-NC) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Nathan Diament, director of the Union’s Institute for Public Affairs and a
leader of the diverse coalition of religious organizations supporting WRFA,
issued the following statement:
Promoting religious liberty is the highest domestic policy priority for
the Orthodox Union and its national constituency. The issue of religious
accommodation in the workplace is a critical component of making religious
liberty real for Americans of all faiths. Thus, we strongly support WRFA
and deeply appreciate the leadership of Senators Kerry and Santorum on
this issue. We look forward to continuing our work with them and the
diverse members of our coalition of religious communities to secure
passage of this bill and ensure that no American is forced to choose
between career and conscience.
###
|
