Religious Freedom – Page 59

Is the Free Exercise of Religion Becoming an Intellectual Exercise?

Apr 16, 2015Jerry Cox1 CommentReligious FreedomReligion, Religious Freedom, Religious Liberty, RFRA

Recently the Arkansas General Assembly passed Act 975, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Many other states have established similar laws over the past two decades. Simply put, these laws say the state government cannot burden the free exercise of religion unless doing so furthers a compelling governmental interest—such as protecting children or public safety, and so forth.

Over the years, I have heard opponents of these laws comment that religion does not seem to be suffering in Arkansas. Some people have asked me how much more religious freedom we need—after all, there’s a church on almost every street corner in many of our communities.

These comments hint at an underlying assumption: Religion is something a person does for an hour or two every week. It’s a belief and a church service—an intellectual exercise, and nothing more.

That’s a shortsighted assumption.

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Letter: Religious Leaders Thank Governor Hutchinson for RFRA

Apr 13, 2015Jerry CoxReligious FreedomReligious Freedom, Religious Liberty

Shortly before the Arkansas Legislature adjourned, Governor Hutchinson signed Act 975, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

This good law protects religious liberty in Arkansas from further erosion. It is based on federal law as well as similar laws in 20 other states.

Alliance Defending Freedom joined Family Council and more than 30 ministers, religious leaders, and organizations in sending Governor Hutchinson a letter last week thanking him for signing this good bill into law.

You can see a copy of the letter and a list of its signatories here.

Religious Freedom Restoration Act Becomes Arkansas Law!

Apr 2, 2015Jerry CoxReligious FreedomReligious Freedom, Religious Liberty, RFRA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 2, 2015

On Thursday Family Council issued a statement applauding the Arkansas General Assembly and Governor Asa Hutchinson for passing Senate Bill 975, The Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Family Council President Jerry Cox released a statement, saying, “We still maintain House Bill 1228, the original religious freedom law passed by more than two-thirds of both the Arkansas House and Arkansas Senate, was an excellent bill. However, Senate Bill 975 is also an excellent bill. As we keep saying, the original religious freedom bill, H.B. 1228, was the Rolls Royce of religious freedom laws, but S.B. 975, the replacement bill, is still a Cadillac.”

Cox said he appreciates the time and effort put into these bills by Arkansas’ legislators. “Being a lawmaker is not easy. I know many representatives and senators worked hard on these bills, particularly Representative Bob Ballinger and Senator Bart Hester. I believe Arkansans should be proud of their lawmakers for taking a stand for religious liberty and proud of Governor Hutchinson for signing a good bill into law.”

Cox said the Religious Freedom Restoration Act will protect religious liberty in Arkansas. “This law simply guards the free exercise of religion from government infringement. If the government tries to force you to act against your deeply-held convictions, this law helps guarantee your day in court to defend yourself for obeying your religious beliefs. That’s something everyone ought to be able to support.”

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