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| Date: From: Subject: | 4/29/2005 1:13:54 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Oregon--Update - Continue to Call to Support Religious Freedom Bill |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== April 29, 2005 Oregon--Update - Continue to Call to Support Religious Freedom Bill Dear HSLDA members and friends: We need you to continue to call the Subcommittee on Civil Law to help bring about victory for religious freedom in Oregon. There wasn't enough time for all the people who wanted to testify at the public hearing for House Bill 2912, the Religious Freedom Bill, on Wednesday, so the Committee has scheduled another hearing. This second hearing is scheduled for Monday, May 2 and OCEANetwork will be testifying. The success or failure of this effort to protect one of our most precious freedoms may be determined by your phone calls. As outlined earlier 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. Please call now to help support House Bill 2912. 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=2300 . 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, Thomas J. Schmidt HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> What do you look like when you get out of bed? It's hard to look our best all the time. HSLDA works to present homeschooling in an engaging, dynamic, and informative light to the public news media. More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1104 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== 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. ====================================================================== | |
