Religious-protection bill awaits president's signature
By The Associated Press
07.28.00
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WASHINGTON — City officials would not be able to zone a new
church out of its area simply because they didn't want it around under a
bill sent to President Clinton yesterday.
Religious groups had complained that cities and towns would try to use
zoning laws to stop them from building new churches or temples or moving into
their area.
Some city officials would "deliberately exclude all new churches
from an entire city, others refuse to permit churches to use existing buildings
that nonreligious assemblies had previously used and some intentionally change
a zone to exclude a church," said Rep. Charles Canady, R-Fla.
Under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of
2000, which has been approved by the House and Senate, land-use regulations
that hindered the building of religious buildings would have to be justified by
a compelling government interest. Also, religious organizations could not be
totally zoned out of a jurisdiction, said Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin
Hatch, R-Utah.
The bill would not exempt churches from zoning, though. If the group
could not prove the regulations put a substantial burden on sincere religious
exercise, the claim would fail, Hatch said.
The bill, formerly known as the Religious Liberty Protection Act, also
would protect the right of prisoners to practice their religion as long as it
did not disrupt the security, discipline or order of their institutions.
Hatch also said prisoners and mental health patients have been
prevented from practicing their faith, including simple things like letting
Jewish prisoners have matzo and unleavened bread during Passover even when
Jewish groups donated the food for free.
"The legislation would require that a substantial burden on an
institutionalized person's religious exercise be justified by a
compelling interest," Canady said.
Update
President signs religious-protection bill
Supporters of new law say cities have tried to use zoning regulations to stop groups from building new churches or temples, or from moving in.
09.26.00
Previous
Senate hears more support for religious-protection bill
Panel tells lawmakers neutral laws are infringing on religious-liberty rights and legislative protection is needed.
09.10.99
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