Democrats Seek to Weaken Landmark Religious Freedom Law

Democrats Seek to Weaken Landmark Religious Freedom Law



More than 120 Democrats have signed onto a House bill that would weaken a popular and bipartisan 1993 law that protects religious freedom.


At issue is the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which says the “government shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion.” That 1993 law passed the House unanimously and the Senate near-unanimously, with only three votes in opposition. President Clinton, a Democrat, signed it. 


But an increasing number of Democrats say the law is being abused. 


Democratic Rep. Joe Kennedy (Mass.) is sponsoring a bill, the Do No Harm Act, that would amend the 1993 law so it doesn’t apply to a series of situations. Among those exceptions would be a federal rule protecting against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in public housing. Also exempted would be anything “denying a person the full and equal enjoyment of a good, service, benefit, facility, privilege, advantage, or accommodation, provided by the government.” It applies to government contracts and grants. It also would impact health care and, potentially, the issue of abortion. 


“By passing the Do No Harm Act, we can reestablish the sacred balance between religious liberty and the personal liberties of those who have too often had their civil rights bargained away,” Kennedy said when it was introduced. 


The Do No Harm Act (H.R….

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Charity to bring Christ-centred approach to youth prison school

Oasis Charitable Trust has been appointed by the Ministry of Justice to re-develop The Medway Young Offenders Centre in Kent, as an education-focused alternative to youth jails.

The re-appointment of leadership comes after the sacking of the detention centres’ former management, following a police investigation which exposed the mistreatment of inmates in 2016.

  

Founder and Leader of Oasis, Rev Steve Chalke told Premier that the Christian academy trust want to take a different approach to prison reform.

He said: “The emphasis is on education and care rather than on locking up, although everybody of course will be locked up – it is a secure unit.

“It’s a new direction. And it is a great privilege to be given this responsibility, but it is a ginormous responsibility, because it’s about path finding a different way of doing this.”

Mr Chalke said the institution would focus on the support and successful rehabilitation of young offenders to reduce the rates of re-offending.

“Youth jails detention centres don’t work,” he said.

“This is a great opportunity for us to show that a Christian ethic, a Christ-centred ethic produces a different result.”

The secure school is due to open in Kent in autumn 2020.

 

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