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.
Written by Don ByrdAssociated Baptist Press’ Bob Allen relays a Forum18 report that three Baptist church leaders in Belarus were arrested last month following a police raid on a worship service. Their crime? Officials would not explain the charges, but the house church is affiliated with the Council of Churches Baptists, which “refuses to register with the government as a matter of principle.”
Written by Don ByrdLast week the ACLU sent a letter to the Wyoming Department of Corrections requesting they revise a policy that prohibits inmates from wearing a yarmulke outside their cell or in religious services. Under RLUIPA, such a rule may substantially burden an inmate’s religious exercise only if it is necessary to achieve a compelling government interest. Assuring that inmates are afforded basic religious accommodations, the ACLU writes, is exactly why RLUIPA was adopted.
Written by Don ByrdAssociated Baptist Press reports on missionaries and others miffed at the idea that the recent controversy over the star of Duck Dynasty is an example of the persecution of Christians.
