ACLU Opposes Religious Freedom Protections in Arkansas

Religious Freedom, ,
Above: A screenshot of one of the ACLU’s statements against H.B. 1615, a bill that would help protect the free exercise of religion in Arkansas.

The ACLU opposes a bill at the state legislature that would help protect religious freedom and rights of conscience in Arkansas.

H.B. 1615 by Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R — Elm Springs) and Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R — Branch) makes important clarifications to the state Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The bill amends state law to add important language that would help prevent the government from burdening the free exercise of religion.

H.B. 1615 helps prohibit religious discrimination against individuals, business owners, and organizations that want to follow their deeply held religious convictions.

Christian-owned wedding venues, bakeries, photography studios, and florist shops have come under fire in state and federal court in recent years. That is why it is so important for our laws to protect religious liberty.

If passed, H.B. 1615 would provide Arkansans with some of the best religious freedom protections in the nation.

Family Council is pleased to support this good bill.

The House Judiciary Committee could vote on H.B 1615 this week.

You Can Read The Bill Here.

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Good Legislation Would Protect Religious Freedom, Rights of Conscience in Arkansas

Religious Freedom,

A bill filed at the capitol on Monday would help protect religious freedom and rights of conscience in Arkansas.

H.B. 1615 by Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R — Elm Springs) and Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R — Branch) makes important clarifications to the state Religious Freedom Restoration Act that lawmakers passed in 2015.

It also helps safeguard the ability of religious people and religious organizations to operate according to their deeply held convictions.

The Free Exercise of Religion and the right to live according to our deeply-held convictions are fundamental rights that our laws are supposed to safeguard.

H.B. 1615 is a good bill that helps protect those liberties from encroachment by the government.

You Can Read H.B. 1615 Here.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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“Religious Freedom Day” Resolution Filed at Arkansas Legislature

Religious Freedom,

On Monday Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) and Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) filed H.C.R. 1005 declaring January 16, 2023, “Religious Freedom Day” in Arkansas.

The concurrent resolution recognizes the role that the free exercise of religion and the freedom of conscience have played throughout our nation’s history.

The measure quotes multiple U.S. presidents, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who said in 1935,

[I]n the conflict of policies and of political systems, which the world today witnesses, the United States has held for its own guidance and for the guidance of other nations if they will accept it, this great torch of liberty of human thought, liberty of human conscience. We will never lower it.

January 16 marks the 237th anniversary of the enactment of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom that Thomas Jefferson drafted in 1786. The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom is widely considered the forerunner of the First Amendment.

You can read H.C.R. 1005 here.

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