January 20, 1999
Bush and coalition support RFRA
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___AUSTIN--The Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, filed on the eve of the state legislature's opening day, met with bipartisan support and affirmation by a broad-based coalition of faith groups.
___The Texas RFRA would require the state and local governments to show a compelling interest, such as a threat to public health or safety, before limiting any citizen's free exercise of religion.
___Sponsors Sen. David Sibley, R-Waco, and Rep. Scott Hochberg, D-Houston, appeared at a Jan. 11 news conference with Gov. George W. Bush and Lt. Gov. Rick Perry to introduce the companion bills, HB 601 and SB 138.
___"This country was founded on the rock of religious freedom. Yet recent court decisions have begun chipping away at that rock. Texas intends to restore it," Bush said.
___"One of my missions as governor is to help foster an environment where people of faith and goodwill can express their faith and love for their neighbors without the fear of government intrusion or intervention. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act is an important part of this initiative."
___The need for a state RFRA arose after the Supreme Court ruled the national Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 unconstitutional when applied to state and local governments.
___State RFRA legislation is allowed under the Supreme Court's decision, and six other states already passed such laws in 1997.
___Phil Strickland, director of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission, was convener of the Texas RFRA coalition, which already has drawn support from Baptist, Methodist, Disciples of Christ, Presbyterian, Jewish, Mormon, Seventh-day Adventist and other faith communities.
___The coalition spans the political spectrum from the conservative Free Market Foundation and Christian Legal Society to the liberal National Peace Tax Fund and Texas Freedom Network.
___Clyde Glazener, pastor of Gambrell Street Baptist Church in Fort Worth and chairman of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board, and Lewis Lee, director of missions for San Antonio Baptist Association, are among those joining the coalition endorsing the Texas RFRA.
___Other Baptists in the coalition include George Mason, pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas; Roger Paynter, pastor of First Baptist Church in Austin; and Charles Johnson, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Lubbock. The coalition is continuing to add supporters.
___"If religious unanimity is as rare as hen's teeth, then call this the hen's teeth bill," Strickland said. "Among faith groups, there is virtually total enthusiastic support for this legislation.
___"The reason, of course, is that it goes to the heart of religious liberty, protecting the right of every person to worship as she or he chooses."Frontpage / Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!