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| Date: From: Subject: | 2/16/2007 5:17:24 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Virginia: Calls needed for Monday Morning Religious Freedom Act |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== Virginia: Calls needed for Monday Morning Religious Freedom Act Dear HSLDA Members and Friends: We are approaching the last hurdle for the Religious Freedom Act which will bring tremendous freedom for homeschoolers and the free exercise of religion in Virginia. On Monday at 8:00 a.m. the Senate Committee on Courts and Justice will vote on the Virginia RFA. Home School Legal Defense Association is planning on testifying at the meeting; also testifying will be representatives from various religious groups and Bill Thro from Virginia Attorney General's office. We need you to call the members of the committee and to attend this hearing if at all possible. REQUESTED ACTION Please call members of the Senate Committee for Courts and Justice and give them this message. The Virginia legislature will be in session over the weekend, so calls can continue through Monday. "Please vote in favor of HB 3082, the Religious Freedom Act. This bill protects one of the most important freedoms in the state of Virginia--religious freedom." MEMBERS OF THE COURTS AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE Stolle (Chairman), (804) 698-7508 email: district08@sov.state.va.us Saslaw, (804) 698-7535 email: district35@sov.state.va.us Marsh, (804) 698-7516 email: district16@sov.state.va.us Quayle, (804) 698-7513 email: district13@sov.state.va.us Norment, (804) 698-7503 email: district03@sov.state.va.us Howell, (804) 698-7532 email: district32@sov.state.va.us Lucas, (804) 698-7518 email: district18@sov.state.va.us Edrwards, (804) 698-7521 email: district21@sov.state.va.us Reynolds, (804) 698-7520 email: district20@sov.state.va.us Puller, (804) 698-7536 email: district36@sov.state.va.us Rerras, (804) 698-7506 email: district06@sov.state.va.us Blervins, (804) 698-751 email: district14@sov.state.va.us Cuccinelli, (804) 698-7537 email: district37@sov.state.va.us Obershain, (804) 698-7526 email: district26@sov.state.va.us McDougle, (804) 698-7504 email: district04@sov.state.va.us You can also reach the senators via the capitol switchboard at (804) 698-7410 or (804) 698-1470. Or you can use our legislative toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/toolbox to find the senators contact information. 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 home schooling. Under this minimal standard, the State can override a home schooler'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 HB 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." For a more detailed information on Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, visit our website at: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?ID=14. 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! Thanks again for your calls! 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Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
