Religious Freedom Restoration Act

In recent weeks, the courts rendered decisions in two cases involving First Amendment guarantees of the free exercise of religion. We agree with both decisions, but deplore one of the outcomes.

An Arizona federal judge has reversed the convictions of four faith-based volunteers who were fined and put on probation for aiding migrants at the border, saying that the activists were simply exercising their “sincerely held religious beliefs.”

Commentary: Catholics could be leaders in reclaiming a more authentic commitment to religious freedom that doesn't pit religion against LGBTQ dignity, or view rights and responsibilities as opposing forces.

"It was simply a religiously motivated, sacramental action," says Martha Hennessy, one of the seven who were arrested and charged for their anti-nuclear protest at a naval base last year.

Commentary: After seven anti-nuclear weapons activists were charged for entering the nuclear submarine base at Kings Bay, Georgia, they told the court that the commandment "thou shalt not kill" applies to individual Americans as well as to its government.

Signs of the Times: The House of Representatives passed the Equality Act, which would strengthen bans on discrimination against LGBTQ persons by adding "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the definition of "sex" in federal civil rights laws. The measure got the support of NETWORK, a social justice lobby led by Catholic nuns, but was opposed by the U.S. Catholic bishops.

In a joint letter to Congress, the chairmen of three committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said they oppose the Equality Act because it would impose "sweeping regulations to the detriment of society."

A group of evangelicals are drafting a bill to protect both religious freedom and LGBTQ rights. But other prominent evangelicals have already begun to criticize the effort.