| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 2/27/2003 2:25:57 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Missouri--Religious Freedom Bill Needs Your Help |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- February 27, 2003 Dear Missouri Members and Friends, Good news! Senate Bill 12 has passed the Senate Committee on Pensions and General Laws last week and a full floor vote is expected soon. Homeschoolers now have an opportunity to win a solid legislative victory for religious freedom. In order to achieve this victory, the Home School Legal Defense Association urges you to immediately contact your state senator to support the Missouri Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Senate Bill 12. We need you to call your senator immediately. Religious freedom in Missouri hangs in the balance. REQUESTED ACTION Call your state senator immediately and give him or her this message: "Vote to protect religious freedom in Missouri! Support the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, SB 12." (You do not need to identify yourself as a home schooler for these calls.) If you know the name of your senator, call Missouri Secretary of the Senate's office at 573-751-3766 and ask to be transferred to your senator. To learn the name of your senator, use HSLDA's Legislative Toolbox at: http://www.hslda.org/toolbox. If you do not have Internet access, call your county clerk's office and ask for your state representative and senator's names. BACKGROUND On June 25, 1997, by a 6-3 majority, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in The City of Boerne v. Flores that the 1993 federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) was unconstitutional. By doing this, the Court gave the lowest level of protection to religious liberty--one of the foundational freedoms of home schooling. Under this minimal standard, the State of Missouri can override a home schooler or other citizen's right to freely exercise his religious beliefs merely by proving that its regulation is "reasonable." Since nearly all state regulations can be determined to be "reasonable," Christians will lose. Since the devastating Boerne decision, state and federal courts across the country have diminished religious freedom in many ways. For example: - The long-standing practice of pastor-laity confidentiality has been repeatedly violated; - A Catholic hospital was denied accreditation for refusing to teach abortion techniques; - There have been conflicts with zoning ordinances, such as the forced termination of a church ministry to the homeless because it was located on the second floor of a building with no elevator; and - A church was prohibited from feeding more than 50 people per day. In response to the Court's crushing blow to religious freedom, a broad coalition of various Missouri groups was formed to support the Missouri RFRA. HSLDA is also working with a national coalition of religious groups to bring additional support for the passage of this bill. Passage of this act will raise the standard of protection for religious freedom in Missouri for individuals, homeschool parents, churches, and all who desire to freely exercise their religious beliefs. If passed, the Missouri RFRA, will restore the high standard of protection for religious liberty previously guaranteed in the federal RFRA and earlier Supreme Court decisions. Under the Missouri RFRA, if an individual's religious belief is in conflict with a state regulation, the state will have to prove, with evidence, that its regulation is essential to fulfill the state's compelling interest and is the least restrictive means. If the state fails to carry the burden, the regulation must give way to the individual's religious freedom. Restoring this protection for religious freedom will simply "even the playing field." Don't let one decision by the U.S. Supreme Court denigrate this priceless inalienable right. Urge your state senator and state representative now to restore protection for religious liberty in Missouri by supporting the Missouri RFRA, SB 12! Sincerely, Chris Klicka HSLDA Senior Counsel {{JoinAd}} ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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