Religious Freedom Restoration Act

Definition

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) is a U.S. law enacted in 1993 that aims to protect individuals' religious freedoms by prohibiting the government from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion unless it demonstrates a compelling governmental interest and uses the least restrictive means. This act plays a significant role in balancing religious rights against governmental regulations and policies.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. RFRA was enacted in response to a Supreme Court decision in Employment Division v. Smith (1990), which allowed states to deny unemployment benefits to individuals who used illegal drugs for religious purposes.
2. The law applies to federal, state, and local governments, aiming to ensure that individuals can exercise their religious beliefs without undue interference.
3. In 2014, the Supreme Court ruled in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. that closely held corporations could refuse to provide certain contraceptive coverage under RFRA based on religious objections.
4. The act has been criticized for potentially allowing discrimination under the guise of religious freedom, particularly in cases involving LGBTQ+ rights.
5. RFRA has inspired similar laws at the state level, leading to ongoing debates about the balance between religious liberties and civil rights.

Review Questions

• How does the Religious Freedom Restoration Act impact the interpretation of the Free Exercise Clause?
  • The Religious Freedom Restoration Act enhances the protection offered by the Free Exercise Clause by establishing a higher standard for government interference with religious practices. Under RFRA, when a person's exercise of religion is substantially burdened, the government must show that it has a compelling interest and that it is using the least restrictive means to achieve that interest. This essentially provides individuals with stronger legal grounds to challenge laws or policies they believe infringe upon their religious freedoms.
• Discuss how RFRA has intersected with anti-discrimination laws and what implications this has had on court rulings.
  • RFRA's intersection with anti-discrimination laws has led to significant legal conflicts, particularly regarding cases involving LGBTQ+ rights. Courts have had to navigate between protecting religious freedoms under RFRA and upholding anti-discrimination statutes that aim to protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. This tension has resulted in various rulings, where some courts have upheld religious exemptions while others have prioritized anti-discrimination protections, illustrating the complex balance between these two important rights.
• Evaluate the potential consequences of RFRA on societal norms and legal standards regarding religious freedoms and civil rights.
  • The Religious Freedom Restoration Act can lead to significant societal implications as it shapes how religious freedoms are understood and applied in various contexts. On one hand, it reinforces strong protections for individual rights to practice faith without government interference; however, it can also create conflicts with civil rights protections, particularly for marginalized groups. As more cases come before courts interpreting RFRA, the outcomes will likely influence public policy debates around the limits of religious liberty and its intersection with equality rights, affecting how society balances these fundamental freedoms.

Related terms

Free Exercise Clause:

A provision in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that prohibits the government from interfering with individuals' rights to practice their religion freely.

Establishment Clause:

A part of the First Amendment that prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or unduly favoring one religion over another.

Burden of Proof: In legal terms, this refers to the obligation of a party to prove its allegations or claims in court; under RFRA, this shifts to the government when a religious exercise is substantially burdened.