Dakota Beacon

As the sponsoring committee chairman, I would like to share, what in our view is the purpose and need for Measure 3, the Religious Liberty Restoration Amendment.

Measure 3 simply restores the level of protection of our First Amendment religious liberty right of free exercise to a level previous to a 1990 US Supreme Court decision which reduced that level.

The effect of the court ruling removed the need for a government entity seeking to infringe on an individual's or religious organization's religious belief to demonstrate a 'compelling interest'. A compelling interest is one which requires the government to have a good reason, not just any reason.

Congress responded to the 1990 US Supreme court ruling by passing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA), which restored the compelling interest test. It passed with near unanimous votes of congress and was signed by President Clinton.

Subsequently, the court ruled that the federal RFRA did not apply to the states, leaving each state to enact legislation on a state by state basis. To date, 27 states have enacted state statutes or have precedents set by their state supreme court, which have restored the level of protection similar to the federal RFRA.

Measure 3, the Religious Liberty Restoration Amendment does just that. As stated in the measure, 'government may not burden a person's or religious organization's religious liberty'. That means the burden is on the government to show a compelling reason, a good reason, before it can infringe on a sincerely held religious belief as guaranteed by the First Amendment.

With the benefit of 27 other states and the federal government having similar language, we know it is well tested, balancing the strong protection of our religious freedoms while respecting legitimate government interests.

Our Founding Fathers had firsthand experience in dealing with hardships associated with religious freedom and the lack thereof. It was so important that the very first amendment in the Bill of Rights protected our religious liberties. Today not much has changed in regard to the threats to our religious freedoms, and the very same protection is needed. Measure 3 will restore that level of protection.

Please join me in supporting Measure 3, by casting a "yes" vote on June 12th.

Religious Liberty Restoration Amendment text can be found at http://www.yesonmeasurethree.org.

Tom Freier is the President and Executive Director of North Dakota Family Alliance Action.

*paid for by the Religious Liberty Restoration Amendment Committee

Pray

• Pray that the sanctity of marriage be restored
• Pray that our Religious Liberty be preserved
• Pray for God's wisdom for our leaders