Written by Don ByrdToday is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Dr. King is perhaps America’s premier historic example of social and political activism animated by faith. His Christian beliefs shaped his desire for peace, justice and equality for all. At the same time, he never sought to impose his faith on others, or to use the powers of government to promote his religion.
Indeed, when I think of Dr. King’s message and method, I am reminded of Rev. James Dunn’s admonition that religious institutions should refrain from getting too close to government. Once the conscience of the church is in a “bear hug” with the state, he likes to say, there is not enough “swinging room” to hold accountable the government.
Written by Don ByrdA sharply divided Virginia Senate Health and Education Committee yesterday sent legislation to the full Senate that purports to expand the religious liberty of public school students. SB 236 requires school policies that allow any student speaker at a school event the right to express a religious viewpoint following a disclaimer by the principal that the student’s views do not reflect those of the school.
Written by Don Byrd
January 16 is National Religious Freedom Day, commemorating the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, adopted by the state’s General Assembly in 1786. The statute became the basis for the Establishment Clause.
In a blog post today co-written with Eric Treene marking the occasion, White House Director of Neighborhood and Faith-Based Partnerships, Melissa Rogers emphasized the importance of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.
Written by Don ByrdArizona State Representative Steve Yarborough has proposed legislation (pdf) that would authorize broad rights to discriminate against others based on religious belief by amending the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act provision. The law currently prohibits the government from substantially burdening a person’s religious exercise unless it is necessary to achieve a compelling state interest. Yarbrough’s amendments specify that RFRA can be a defense in any “state action,” regardless of whether the government is a party to the proceeding (so, a lawsuit by another individual, for example). It also redefines “person” to include corporations and “any legal entity.”
The move seems to be in response to circumstances in which vendors like photographers, florists and cake-makers have been sued under state anti-discrimination laws after refusing to serve customers’ same-sex weddings.
Written by Don ByrdYesterday, a federal judge in Oklahoma dismissed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state’s license plate featuring a Native American image. The plaintiff Keith Cressman, a Methodist pastor, argued the image is based on a statue of an archer shooting a sacred arrow as a prayer for rain. Placing it on state license plates conveys a religious message, his suit claimed, in violation of the separation of church and state.
