-Caveat Lector-
from: AMERICAN ATHEISTS
subject: AANEWS for July 15 1999 (Second Dispatch)
A M E R I C A N A T H E I S T S
#610 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7/15/99 (Second Dispatch)
http://www.atheists.org
ftp.atheists.org/pub/atheists/
http://www.americanatheist.org
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A Service of AMERICAN ATHEISTS
"Leading The Way For Atheist Civil Rights
And The Separation Of State and Church"
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RELIGIOUS LIBERTY PROTECTION ACT CLEARS HOUSE
The Religious Liberty Protection Act was approved by the House of
Representatives today this afternoon, 306-118. The measure survived
attempts to amend it, after congress turned down a proposal by Rep.
Jerrold Nadler that would have limited the scope of the act, and not
allowed groups to cite religion in trumping anti-discrimination laws
and other civil rights legislation.
Nadler Amendment Defeated
After nearly two hours of debate, the House voted on the Nadler
version of RLPA. The amendment failed on a voice vote, and during a
recorded vote, C-SPAN interviewed Janet Parshall of the Family
Research Council. She opined that there had been "a tremendous,
systematic assault by the Supreme Court over the past 35 years," -- a
figure not cited by some RLPA boosters who only go as far back as the
EMPLOYMENT DIVISION v. SMITH ruling. Parshall said that "we have
lost perspective," and that "95% of all Americans believe in god, they
have a creed, they have a house of worship." She also described RLPA
as a "wall of protection instead of a wall of separation," in defining
the relationship between church and state.
Michael Farris of the Home School Legal Defense Fund predicted that if
passed, RLPA would be declared unconstitutional. He praised the goal
of RLPA, but said that he had problems with the means being used,
specifically the commerce and spending clauses. Farris also argued
that RLPA "helps only the big denominations," rather than small groups
of religious believers. "The bills is a hoax on the American public,
the people pushing it know better, it will be declared
unconstitutional."
The Nadler amendment on roll call failed 190-234.
With today's passage of RLPA in the House, the measure now moves to
the Senate. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to hold
further hearings on its version of the legislation; capitol hill
watchers predict that RLPA may face a tougher time in the Senate.
A breakdown of representatives' vote will be available later this
evening on the American Atheists FLASHLINE web site.
**
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founded by Madalyn Murray O'Hair for the advancement of Atheism, and
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