Revisiting the Religious Freedom Restoration Act
A while back I wrote on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act being brought up for vote in the State Legislature. I was contacted by the editor of this website yesterday, thanking me for bringing this issue to people’s attention.
Ok, I started this last night, and today, it’s back to haunt us with a Rochester group involved, big time.
Why are these groups opposed to the RFRA?
What RFRA theoretically promises differs greatly from its practical application. In practice RFRA is redundant and discriminatory. The application of RFRA will call into question many secular laws that have nothing to do with religion and exist to protect all New Yorkers regardless of religion or creed.
RFRA is unnecessary because it is redundant on both the federal level and state level. Our right to religious freedom is already protected in the U.S. Bill of Rights:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…
– First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Additionally, the New York State Constitution also clearly guarantees free religious exercise:
The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed in this state to all humankind; and no person shall be rendered incompetent to be a witness on account of his or her opinions on matters of religious belief; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of this state. (Amended by vote of the people November 7, 2001.)
Do we want to give some kid the right to wear a shirt to school that says “God Hates Gays” because that’s what his religion teaches? Is this fair? I think that’s protection gone amuck. Call me intolerant, but…………..
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that was the goal. Personally if someone wants to wear a shirt that says that “God Hates Gays” that’s their right - and I’d prefer they wear their hatred on their shirt so I can avoid conversation with them, or at worst case, engage in conversation and perhaps have them explain their position, and through communication, perhaps change a mind.
But those who have exploited GOD to undermine and blur the lines of what the First Amendment stands for have done so with the intention of breaking down the First Amendment. After all, who’s going to come out and declare they’re against GOD, right? It’s not that ANYONE is against GOD, it’s that those who defend the First Amendment feel strongly in protecting every persons right to practice whatever religion and to pray to whatever GOD they so feel inclined to, without having another persons diety or GOD shoved down their throat, or being forced to participate in prayer that runs contrary to their own personal belief.
They set an extreme parallel when they preach hatred towards one religion, and uphold their own. A perfect example is the recent use of “Muslim” or “”Islamic” looking individuals in fliers in this past election use to put fear into residents and a belief that the stereotypical use of middle-eastern dress and weapons combined with drivers licenses somehow puts your life at risk.
Don’t they realize that no self-respecting terrorist will walk into a DMV to get a license?
No…a self-respecting terrorist will dress well to blend in and send a message of success, join a political group and send out hate messages to try to get others to join his band. There is always strength in numbers. They he/she will raise tons of money to help manipulate and control the masses they recruit, and offer them employment and shelter and wealth in exchange for their alliance and support.
Oh, wait a minute. This circle closes. That sounds just like the GOP leaders in Monroe County. The same GOP in Monroe County that are forcing prayer to a specific diety in their government meetings, and the same GOP in Monroe County that support a President who uses religion like a dirty shirt. The same GOP in this nation that harbored the likes of Ted Haggard, a “man of the cloth” who preached one thing to the leaders of this country, helped shape and set policies of hate that became nationally accepted by many, all while participating in a dark and seedy life that eventually caught up to him. Or your Mark Foley types, whose personal lust run as an oxymoron to the policy he tried to create to “protect” children on the internet.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again - flip these idiots and check them for the “mark” of the beast. These are not people who should sit in contempt of those who respect others right to religious belief. These are people who themselves sit in contempt of everything the Bible represents. Their specific goal is to destroy the First Amendment from the inside out and what remains of it they will use to manipulate, control and destroy what is left of our belief system, and our governmental system.
The principals of the First Amendment after all were doctrinated to protect us from the likes of THEM. It is critical that people of all faiths work hard to protect the First Amendment. Without it, YOU may be forced to wear the t-shirt that says “God Hates Gays”.
The difference in a school environment, like government is that there is seperation between church and state. This includes schools who cannot allow prayer, and therefore religion to interfere with cirriculum. How hard is that to understand. Having the child wearing the shirt take it off isn’t hard when the lines are CLEAR. But because the “GOP Hates Gays” it’s going to be allowed.
It’s almost 2008, and hope is on the horizon. We need to return to the rules that the founding fathers principaled, rules that have survived without failure for over 200 years. 200 years mind you of a country that is still infantile in comparison to others in the Middle East who have “survived” for 1000’s of years. Perhaps the sheer fact that religious war has become the central survivist in these countries is because they LACK a First Amendment, and instead, fight to the death for “THEIR” belief, over their neighbors.
RFRA needs to be shot down. This is another loophole law being created to break down the First Amendment. It’s just fine on it’s own, thank you very much.
Is Jim Alesi somehow involved in this duplication law theory? Seems to be his bag.
Actually, the RFRA is strongly supported by Democrats.
Well they are obviously confused. Falling for the law within a law clause. The First Amendment stands ALONE. Like we need these idiots writing cursory laws off of it. Gads.
Even moreso why people need to call and say NO to it.
This bears repeating:
What RFRA theoretically promises differs greatly from its practical application. In practice RFRA is redundant and discriminatory. The application of RFRA will call into question many secular laws that have nothing to do with religion and exist to protect all New Yorkers regardless of religion or creed.
RFRA is unnecessary because it is redundant on both the federal level and state level. Our right to religious freedom is already protected in the U.S. Bill of Rights:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…
– First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
In 1999, Koon voted NO, Morelle voted YES
Why am I NOT surprised?
Because, JB, you are wise beyond your ears.