New York's RFRA Proposals Generate Opposition

With the support of Gov. Eliot Spitzer, a Religious Freedom Restoration Act (S 6464 and A 9098), has been introduced into New York's legislature. The proposed law would prohibit state and local governments from substantially burdening religious exercise unless they have a compelling interest and use narrowly tailored means to achieve that interest. Today's Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports that Speaker Sheldon Silver-- along with 40 co-sponsors-- is introducing an alternative bill that will also prohibit using religious liberty protections to defend against enforcement of anti-discrimination and health care access laws. A Christian lobbying group, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, opposes that bill because of its protection for abortion rights and rights of homosexuals. Meanwhile, the Albany-based Institute for Humanist Studies is opposing RFRA more generally, objecting to the special rights it gives to those who practice religion. (Press release).