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| Date: From: Subject: | 2/2/2007 2:46:19 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Virginia--Calls Needed Now to Protect Religious Freedom |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== February 2, 2007 Virginia--Calls Needed Now to Protect Religious Freedom Dear HSLDA members and friends, Homeschoolers have an opportunity to win a solid legislative victory for religious freedom in the Assembly. The success or failure of this effort to protect one of our most precious freedoms may be determined by your willingness to call your delegate. In order to achieve this victory, the Home School Legal Defense Association urges you to immediately contact your delegate and ask them to support House Bill 3082, the Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act (which has been introduced by Delegate Scott Lingamfelter at HSLDA's request). The bill passed its first test in a vote of 7-3 in the subcommittee on Civil Courts earlier this week. It is expected to pass the full committee soon. The full Assembly has to vote on the Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) by the end of the day Tuesday, February 6. That is "crossover day" when bills that fully pass the Assembly pass over to the Senate and vice-versa. HSLDA has helped the Religious Freedom Restoration Act pass in 13 states so far. It was passed in a bi-partisan manner in every instance. We are using them to successfully defend homeschoolers' rights in Pennsylvania and Florida. ACTION REQUESTED Please call your delegate now (no later than Tuesday) via the capitol switchboard at (804) 698-1500 or (804) 698-1470. Or use our legislative toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/toolbox to find your delegate's contact information. Please give your delegate this message: "Please vote in favor of H.B. 3082, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. It gives crucial protection to one of our most precious rights, the right to exercise one's religion freely." It is not necessary to identify yourself as a homeschooler since protecting religious freedom crosses all boundaries. 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 H.B. 3082 will raise the standard of protection for religious freedom in Virginia for individuals, homeschool parents, churches, and all who desire to freely exercise their religious beliefs. If passed, the Virginia RFRA will restore the high standard of protection for religious liberty previously guaranteed in the federal RFRA and earlier Supreme Court decisions. Under the Virginia 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." In a somewhat ironic twist, Congress passed a law giving this higher level of protection--but only to prisoners! Prisoners now have greater protection for their religious liberty than you do. This must be changed. For a more detailed information on Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, visit our website at: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=3691 . 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 Virginia by supporting the Virginia RFRA! Sincerely Yours, Chris Klicka HSLDA Senior Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Are you "organizationally challenged"? Finding the time to organize your home, your schedule, and your silverware drawer is difficult enough. We have something that will take the pressure off as you organize your homeschool. Home School Minder will help with your schedule, lesson plans, grades, transcripts, and much more . . . everything except those missing socks. Free to families who join HSLDA for two years. More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1935 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== 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. ====================================================================== | |
