Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia just signed a bill into law that strengthens religious freedom.
The U.S. Constitution’s religious freedom guarantee pertains to more than freedom to believe or to worship. Our founding document protects our freedom to exercise our religion — to demonstrate it and to live it.
In recent years, courts have been ruling in favor of religious business owners, for example, who want to run their businesses in a way that’s compatible with their faith. These businesses service all kinds of customers but draw the line at providing services that conflict with their faith.
The bill Gov. Kemp signed into law is called the Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which is a state version of the federal RFRA. The state law adopts the same compelling interest test for local and state governments. Senator Chuck Schumer introduced RFRA in 1993, and President Bill Clinton signed the bill that same year.
“Our laws should protect the freedom of every person to live and worship according to their faith,” said Greg Chafuen, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom. “The law, which is similar to laws in 29 other states, doesn’t determine who will win every disagreement, but it does ensure that every person—regardless of their religious creed or political power—receives a fair hearing when government action burdens a person’s freedom to live out his or her religious beliefs.”
Unbelievers would like nothing more than for Christians to keep their beliefs private. Unfortunately for them, we have the freedom in America to publicly worship and live our faith.
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