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| Date: From: Subject: | 3/31/2005 2:39:23 PM Home School Legal Defense Association North Carolina--Calls Needed to Support Religious Freedom Bill |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== March 31, 2005 North Carolina--Calls Needed to Support Religious Freedom Bill to Protect Homeschoolers Dear HSLDA members and friends: Good news. The Religious Freedom Act (RFA), House Bill 681, has been introduced by Representative Russell Capps. 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 681. Passage of a RFA in North Carolina will help maintain your homeschool freedom. We are using RFAs to help homeschoolers successfully avoid onerous requirements under the homeschool laws in Pennsylvania and Florida. As of August 2004, by God's grace, more than a quarter of the states have acted to protect the religious freedom of the citizens in their states. Rhode Island, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Arizona, South Carolina, Texas, Idaho, New Mexico, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Alabama and Oklahoma have passed their own state Religious Freedom Acts. HSLDA's legal staff has worked with religious freedom coalitions in the states (and the national state religious freedom coalition), helped draft legislation, lobbied individual state legislators, attorney generals, and governor offices, sent out numerous e-lerts, and provided testimony at some legislative hearings in order to advance these Religious Freedom Acts. The phone calls of thousands of homeschoolers particularly contributed to the passage of the RFA's in Illinois, Arizona, Texas, South Carolina, Idaho, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Illinois was successful after two HSLDA e-lerts and tremendous outpouring of calls by homeschoolers convinced legislators to override the governor's veto. Religious freedom is one of the fundamental foundation blocks for the right to homeschool. Therefore, passage of a RFA in North Carolina will strengthen your right to homeschool. ACTION REQUESTED 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, House Bill 681." You do not need to identify yourself as a homeschooler because this bill will help protect everyone's religious freedom. Representatives on the House Judiciary I Committee: Representative Hugh Hackney, Chairman 919-733-5752 Representative Deborah Ross, Vice-Chairman 919-733-5773 Representative Bonner Stiller, Vice-Chairman 919-733-5974 Representative Martha Alexander 919-733-5807 Representative John Blust 919-733-5806 Representative Debbie Clary 919-715-2002 Representative Melanie Goodwin 919-733-5823 Representative Mary Price Harrison 919-733-5771 Representative Verla Insko 919-733-7208 Representative Paul Miller 919-733-5872 Representative Paul Stam 919-733-5780 Representative Roger West 919-733-5859 Representative Capps, the sponsor of H.B. 681, also sits on this committee. There is no need to call him. 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 making this ruling, 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 means 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. 681. Sincerely, Chris Klicka HSLDA Senior Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> How long are you in for? Some families are facing what seems like a lifelong commitment to homeschooling, with children at both ends of the spectrum-some graduating and some just reaching school age. If you're going to be "in" for a while, consider a lifetime membership with HSLDA. It's a good deal for families with more than 10 years of homeschooling ahead. More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1936 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
