Religious Freedom Act Take II
I received a number of emails in response to Indiana Legalizes Discrimination on Grounds of "Religious Freedom".
The bill, signed by Indiana Governor Mike Pence openly encourages discrimination based on sexual preference although Pence incredulously denies that claim. Pence now recognizes the need to "clarify" the legislation.
One of the better email responses came from reader Mark who wrote ...
The Constitution plainly states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
The Constitutional guarantee of religious freedom is sacrosanct. The only restrictions placed on religious freedom are those religious practices that harm others.
And I would say “Yes” if you wanted to post a “No Catholics” or “No Jews” sign on the front door of your business. I would also warn, in the same breath, that you may find your business surrounded by protestors and boycotted the very next day. That is the market forces at work. Even though I am neither a Catholic nor a Jew, I would not do business with someone that had that sign on their front door. That is my choice, too.
Mark
If It Ain't Broken, Don't Fix It
I replied ...
"Why was there a need then to pass any bill? Pence now says the bill needs to be 'clarified'. If it needs to be 'clarified' then something in it is wrong. At best, the law was political stupidity. At worst, the legislation provides explicit and open
encouragement of discrimination."
By the way, the problem with allowing a sign "
Blacks Not Welcome" or "
Jews Not Welcome" would be the massive protests that would undoubtedly disrupt neighboring establishments, all of which whose business would suffer while the sign was up.
In fact, it is likely the entire neighborhood of an establishment posting such as sign would be torched, with considerable and perhaps permanent damage to the property owner.
For similar reasons, freedom of speech does not allow someone to yell "fire" in a movie theater.
Otherwise, Mark is on target with the right idea.
Acting Man Chimes In
I bounced my response off Pater Tenebrarum, a confirmed Libertarian to see what he thought. Pater replied ...
In principle, the libertarian stance would be that I can decide on my private property, and if my body, time, equipment, etc. are concerned, who I want to let on my premises, and whom I wish to serve in some commercial capacity, or talk to, or otherwise interact with.
So if the law means something like "if you (for whatever reason) dislike gays or any other group of people, you cannot be forced by law to e.g. act as a photographer at their wedding", then it would be consonant with libertarian views - since obviously government coercion would otherwise be involved (saying "no" to someone is not tantamount to coercion, but not being allowed to say so is).
I personally think religious zealots of this sort are detestable, but as you can see, most businesses are voicing their opposition to discriminating conduct and social pressure (boycotts etc.) is already exerted as well (which again is perfectly legitimate).
Thus, there should be no need for the state to intervene at all. Anyway, it seems rather selective if it is introduced solely on "religious grounds". Any other reason than religious conviction should be just as admissible. For instance, it should suffice if one is merely a racist or homophobic jerk. I really don't get why it requires a law.
Real Purpose of the Bill
Pater is precisely correct. There is no need for the state to act.
It follows that the only conceivable purpose of the law is to make it clear that discrimination against gays on "
religious" grounds is perfectly acceptable.
Actually there was one other purpose: Pence kowtowed to the extreme right wing for political purposes. Fortunately it blew up in Pence's face.
Text of the Bill
Inquiring minds may wish to dive into the complete
Text of Indiana's ‘Religious Freedom’ Law.
Differences Between Indiana and Federal Legislation
Many people emailed the bill is exactly the same as the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, passed in 1993 under Clinton.
They are wrong as explained in
What Makes Indiana's Religious-Freedom Law Different?
The Indiana statute has two features the federal RFRA and most state RFRAs do not. First, the Indiana law explicitly allows any for-profit business to assert a right to “the free exercise of religion.”
The federal RFRA doesn’t contain such language, and neither does any of the state RFRAs except South Carolina’s; in fact, Louisiana and Pennsylvania, explicitly exclude for-profit businesses from the protection of their RFRAs.
The new Indiana statute also contains this odd language: “A person whose exercise of religion has been substantially burdened, or is likely to be substantially burdened, by a violation of this chapter may assert the violation or impending violation as a claim or defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding, regardless of whether the state or any other governmental entity is a party to the proceeding.” Neither the federal RFRA, nor 18 of the 19 state statutes cited by the Post, says anything like this; only the Texas RFRA, passed in 1999, contains similar language.
Second, the Indiana statute explicitly makes a business’s “free exercise” right a defense against a private lawsuit by another person, rather than simply against actions brought by government. Why does this matter? Well, there’s a lot of evidence that the new wave of “religious freedom” legislation was impelled, at least in part, by a panic over a New Mexico state-court decision, Elane Photography v. Willock. In that case, a same-sex couple sued a professional photography studio that refused to photograph the couple’s wedding. New Mexico law bars discrimination in “public accommodations” on the basis of sexual orientation. The studio said that New Mexico’s RFRA nonetheless barred the suit; but the state’s Supreme Court held that the RFRA did not apply “because the government is not a party.”
If It Ain't Broken, Don't Fix It Part II
Curiously, one has to wonder if the absurd ruling in New Mexico happened precisely because New Mexico had an RFRA law in the first place.
So how is Indiana supposed to fix the law?
Then again,
If Indiana's Religious-Freedom Law Isn't Discriminatory, Why Change It?
Mike Pence Responds
In a Wall Street Journal Op-Ed called
Ensuring Religious Freedom in Indiana, Governor Pence says "
Our new law has been grossly misconstrued as a ‘license to discriminate.’ That isn’t true, and here’s why."
Last week I signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, known as RFRA, which ensures that Indiana law will respect religious freedom and apply the highest level of scrutiny to any state or local governmental action that infringes on people’s religious liberty. Unfortunately, the law has stirred a controversy and in recent days has been grossly misconstrued as a “license to discriminate.”
I want to make clear to Hoosiers and every American that despite what critics and many in the national media have asserted, the law is not a “license to discriminate,” either in Indiana or elsewhere.
Some express concern that Indiana’s RFRA law would lead to discrimination, but RFRA only provides a mechanism to address claims, not a license for private parties to deny services. Even a claim involving private individuals under RFRA must show that one’s religious beliefs were “substantially burdened” and not in service to a broader government interest—which preventing discrimination certainly is. The government has the explicit power under the law to step in and defend such interests.
Pence's Pack of Lies
Pence's defense reads like a pack of lies.
Here is the amusing part "
Even a claim involving private individuals under RFRA must show that
one’s religious beliefs were 'substantially burdened' and not in service
to a broader government interest—which preventing discrimination
certainly is. The government has the explicit power under the law to
step in and defend such interests," states Pence.
Good Grief!
According to Pence, the government has an "
explicit power" to defend gays against private individuals, requiring the individuals to prove they were "
substantially burdened, and not in service
to a broader government interest," in service denials.
Wow.
If that is really the intent of the law (of course it isn't), no Libertarian in his right mind could ever support such nonsense.
What the Legislation is Really About
Several readers emailed that I should read the comments to my first post on this subject.
I did, and I read every email response as well. I have to say, the volume against me was probably 8-1. One reader got the message.
Reader Daniel replied ....
Hi Mish,
First I'd like to commend you for stating your fair and reasonable opinions about this matter!
Unfortunately it is not a big surprise that wherever there is a large concentration of conservative republicans you still get a whole lot of of bigots as clearly evident by the comments to your article. Hopefully the future of the republican party will be different than what these guys represent.
I want to make a few points that I believe you share as well. If you do not, I would still like to read your response.
The problem with Mike Pence is not that he signed a bad law. The problem is that he signed a law that will be used selectively against a specific group of people while other people will enjoy protections already enforced by the Federal government.
The religionists behind this law do not believe in freedom. They use libertarianism selectively when it's convenient to achieve their own version of theocracy which is the polar opposite of freedom.
By signing this law and having the Republican party associated with it, many fair minded individuals who would normally support republican and libertarian policies will no doubt decide to disassociate themselves from such a party.
Anyway, thank you for providing great articles which I read almost daily.
Daniel
Bingo!
Reader Daniel, like Pater Tenebrarum gets it. There was no reason for this law other that what I stated above.
- To make it clear that discrimination against gays on "religious" grounds is perfectly acceptable.
- To kowtow to the extreme right wing
for political purposes
Reader Mark slightly missed the mark but nicely raised an important constitutional question. Many emails were hateful.
Right to Be an Ass
I fully support the right of everyone to be a compete ass. Take for example this email from
Damon who wrote ...
"
I have read your blog for years but no longer will. I also will not recommend it to others. I support Indiana over the sodomites that are destroying this country. I support Indiana over people like you."
To that I responded "
good riddance".
I have no tolerance for bigots, hate-mongers, fake patriots who wrap themselves in the flag, and anyone who pretends their religion is better than all the rest, even if that stance hurts my blog traffic.
That is a stand I make by choice. I do not say things for "political expediency".
Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com
