| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 4/26/2005 7:23:57 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Oregon--Calls Needed Immediately to Support Religious Freedom Bill |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== April 26, 2005 Oregon--Calls Needed Immediately to Support Religious Freedom Bill Dear HSLDA members and friends: Oregon homeschoolers now have an opportunity to win a solid legislative victory for religious freedom. The success or failure of this effort to protect one of our most precious freedoms may be determined by your phone calls. We need your calls to the House Subcommittee on Civil Law to support House Bill 2912. This bill prohibits the state from burdening a person's free exercise of religion unless they prove they have a significant reason. HSLDA has worked around the country to pass state Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, such as House Bill 2912. RFRA's help protect homeschoolers and other individual's when they choose to exercise their religious beliefs. Currently, a quarter of the states have passed legislation similar to H.B. 2912. H.B. 2912 is scheduled to be heard in the House Subcommittee on Civil Law on Wednesday, April 27, 2005. Please call now to help support this bill. ACTION REQUESTED: 1) Please call and/or email the Members of the House Subcommittee on Civil Law listed below and give them this message: "Support religious freedom for Oregon citizens. Vote 'Yes' on House Bill 2912, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act." You do not need to identify yourself as a homeschooler. House Subcommittee on Civil Law: Chairman Representative Robert Ackerman (D) Phone: 503-986-1413 E-mail: rep.robertackerman@state.or.us Representative Linda Flores (R) Phone: 503-986-1451 E-mail: rep.lindaflores@state.or.us Representative Bill Garrard (R) Phone: 503-986-1456 E-mail: rep.billgarrard@state.or.us Representative Kelley Wirth (D) Phone: 503-986-1416 E-mail: rep.kelleywirth@state.or.us 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, the State can override a homeschooler's 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 U.S. Supreme Court 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. Passage of House Bill 2912 will raise the standard of protection for religious freedom in Oregon for individuals, homeschool parents, churches, and all who desire to freely exercise their religious beliefs. If passed, the Oregon RFRA will restore the high standard of protection for religious liberty previously guaranteed in the federal RFRA and earlier Supreme Court decisions. Under the Oregon 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 a compelling state 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." For a more detailed information on Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, visit our website at: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=2299 . 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 Oregon by supporting the Oregon RFRA. Sincerely, Chris Klicka HSLDA Senior Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Extreme makeovers are for extreme circumstances... Most homeschools don't need an extreme makeover, but there is something to be said for attention to detail and recognition of accomplishments. Watch the media and you'll soon see that not everyone wants home educators and homeschooling to look good. HSLDA works hard to shed light on the good work of home educators so it's obvious that we don't need someone "making-over" our homeschools. Join HSLDA and help us show the world that we're fine as we are . . . thank you! More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1943 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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If this is an invalid email address or you have other problems, please reply to webmaster@hslda.org. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: This is considered a private and confidential message from HSLDA to its bonafide HSLDA E-lert Service subscribers. HSLDA cannot attest to the authenticity of copies posted, forwarded, or sent by any party other than HSLDA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: Please do not reply or otherwise use this email address; hslda@hslda.org is for broadcast purposes only and is not intended to receive incoming messages. We cannot reply to any email sent to this address. If you have comments or questions, please send email to info@hslda.org or call HSLDA at 540-338-5600. HSLDA members can also email staff directly through the Members website at http://members.hslda.org/contact.asp. Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
