-Caveat Lector- Alamaine Ratliff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > -Caveat Lector- > > From > From http://www.infidels.org/index.html <snipped to save bandwidth> A couple of quick points: first, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act was designed to restore the "compelling interest" requirement for governmental interference with religious exercise. At the time it was in effect, I was a staff member of a large Quaker organization. Several of our employees refused to pay war taxes--that is, the portion of Federal taxes proportionate to defense spending in the Federal budget--on grounds of conscience. (Until the 1920's, most Quakers were technically forbidden to pay taxes levied to purchase "drums, colours, or other instruments of war." During the 19th century this was easy, since a separate tax had to be enacted for each spending purpose. The creation of the Federal income tax threw a monkeywrench into this particular Quaker witness, since it was now impossible to determine where your money was going.) RFRA undermined the government's case against our employees, because there was no way the IRS could demonstrate a "compelling interest" in the small amount of money they would get by prohibiting the practice of a central belief among Quakers. However, when Scalia uttered his unbelievably snide opinion in overturning RFRA, we had no choice but to roll over and wave our collective feet in the air... Second, the current efforts to get the so-called "Religious Liberty Protection Act" through Congress are masterminded by the right-wing theocrats who control the Republican party. The RLPA has virtually no resemblance to RFRA. Instead, it's designed to establish the "right" to mandate school prayer, enforce the practice of Christian rituals by public officials, and otherwise force the entire country into a very narrow sectarian mold. One of its authors, IIRC, is Ernest Istook of Oklahoma, the originator of the proposed Constitutional amendment to enshrine school prayer. I would have absolutely no problem with writing the language of RFRA into the Constitution, because it protects the full range of religious expression in this country; RLPA is another story altogether. Bob ================================= Robert F. Tatman [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Remove "nospam" from the address to reply. NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml POSTING THIS MESSAGE TO THE INTERNET DOES NOT IMPLY PERMISSION TO SEND UNSOLICITED COMMERCIAL E-MAIL (SPAM) TO THIS OR ANY OTHER INTERNET ADDRESS. RECEIPT OF SPAM WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION OF THE SENDER'S ISP. ____________________________________________________________________ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape WebMail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
