House of Representatives Passes Bill on Religious Liberty

Source: Los Angeles Times

On August 1, 1999, the Los Angeles Times reported thatthe House of Representatives passed The Religious Liberty ProtectionAct on July 15th, which states that local and state officials mustbend their rules to accommodate religious claims unless there is acompelling need to do otherwise. Organizations such as the American JewishCongress, People for the American Way, the Christian Coalition, andFocus on the Family are in support of the legislation, but the ACLUand the NAACP Legal Defense Fund are opposed to the bill because theyfear religious conservatives will use this legislation todiscriminate against homosexuals, unmarried mothers, and those withAIDS.