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| Date: From: Subject: | 3/26/2003 11:59:49 AM Home School Legal Defense Association North Carolina--Calls Needed on Religious Freedom Bill |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- March 26, 2003 Dear HSLDA Members and Friends, Good news! The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, House Bill 403, was reintroduced again this year after being stalled in last year's legislative session. 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 representative to support the North Carolina Religious Freedom Restoration Act, House Bill 403. Religious freedom is one of the fundamental foundations blocks for the right to homeschool. REQUESTED ACTION 1) Please call as many members of the committee below and give them this message: "Protect religious freedom in North Carolina! Please vote to support the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, H.B. 403" You do not need to identify yourself as a homeschooler for these calls. Representatives on the House Ways and Means Committee: Rep. Michael Decker, Chairman, 919-733-5988 Rep. Louis Pate, Chairman, 919-715-0873 Rep. J. Curtis Blackwood, 919-733-5828 Rep. Mitch Gillespie, 919-733-5987 Rep. G. Wayne Goodwin, 919-733-5849 Rep. James Harrell, 919-715-3003 Rep. Maggie Jeffus, 919-733-5191 Rep. Earl Jones, 919-733-5825 Rep. Paul Luebke, 919-733-7663 Rep. W. Franklin Mitchell, 919-733-5931 Rep. Martin Nesbitt, 919-715-3001 Rep. Earline Parmon, 919-715-2530 Rep. Steve Wood, 919-733-5749 Below are the sponsors of H.B. 403 who sit on this committee. There is no need call them. Rep. Jean Preston, 919-733-5706 Rep. John Rhodes, 919-733-5530 Rep. Arlie Culp, 919-733-5865 2) Also call your own state representative and give him the same message as above. The general number for the North Carolina General Assembly is 919-733- 7928. To learn the name of your representative, 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's name). 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 homeschooling. Under this minimal standard, North Carolina can override a homeschooler 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 congregation confidentiality has been repeatedly violated; > A church sponsored 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 ministry 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 North Carolina groups was formed to support the North Carolina 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 North Carolina for individuals, homeschool parents, churches, and all who desire to freely exercise their religious beliefs. If passed, the North Carolina RFRA, will restore the high standard of protection for religious liberty previously guaranteed in the federal RFRA and earlier Supreme Court decisions. Under the North Carolina 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 fulfilling the state's compelling interest and is the least restrictive way of doing so. 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 representative now to restore protection for religious liberty in North Carolina by supporting H.B. 403! 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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