I received an e-mail about a conference that I'm attending, informing me that attendees questioned why the soapmaking guild was hosting the upcoming conference in Indiana in light of the "anti-gay law" that Governor Pence just passed. Or, is it anti-gay?
The "Religious Freedom Restoration Act" (RFRA) that the Governor of Indiana just passed reflects the federal law (by the same name) that was introduced by Chuck Shumer and signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1993. It "ensures that interests in religious freedom are protected." How is it an anti-gay law now, but not before?
Those in favor say the law protects businesses from having to provide services that offend their religious beliefs and that it will keep the government from forcing them to provide services that they find objectionable, such as a Christian minister performing a same-sex wedding.
This law counteracts recent events where legal action forced business owners with religious convictions to serve LGBT couples (the florist who refused to provide flowers for a same-sex marriage, a baker who refused to bake a wedding cake for the same reason)."It's discriminatory!" has been the outcry.
Is it all right to force people to provide services even if in so doing it violates their conscience? Should a Jewish business owner be forced to design Swastika plaques? Or, an atheist jeweler to sell crucifixes? A Muslim butcher to sell pork?
The law was passed to prevent this kind of manipulation. This law that protects religious business owners protects us all from being forced to do something against our conscience. Whether or not you're against same-sex marriage is not the issue; it's about having the right to run a business according to your beliefs.
Unfortunately, what was intended to protect religious freedom has been misconstrued, spawning vitriol and mistruths.
When a pendulum swings too far off center, a counteracting force balances it: this law is that counter balance. It reaffirms our freedom of religion, a constitutional right.
(http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/13pdf/13-354_olp1.pdf
http://www.newsnet5.com/news/political/gov-pence-to-sign-religious-freedom-bill-thursday
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/washington-florist-sued-refusing-provide-flowers-sex-wedding/story?id=18922065
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