Bill Clinton 1996 On The Issues
Protecting Religious Freedom
"Let us never believe that the freedom of religion
imposes on any of us some responsibility to run from our convictions. Let us
instead respect one another’s faiths, fight to the death to preserve the right
of every American to practice whatever convictions he or she has, but bring
our values back to the table of American discourse to heal our troubled
land.”
—President Bill Clinton
Religion has always played a
central role in the President’s life. The President firmly believes
that religion is an issue that should draw us together — strengthening, rather
than dividing, our communities. He has worked hard to help people of different
faiths find common ground while adhering to the spirit of the First Amendment
and its imperative that our government must neither establish nor interfere
with religion, but rather respect the role religion plays in our families and
in our nation.
President Clinton has protected the religious freedoms Americans treasure
by:
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Signing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) — one
of the most important civil rights bills for religion in American
history. Supported by nearly 70 civic and religious groups, the RFRA
mandates that government cannot interfere with religious practice
unless health and/or safety are jeopardized. Even then, the government
must pursue its interest in the manner least burdensome to
religion. |
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President Clinton directed the general counsel of each
department of the federal government to prepare a report on religious
rights issues that could arise in the course of their department’s
operations and to designate a staff lawyer to monitor new policies for
violations of the RFRA. These procedures insure that federal agencies
take account of Americans’ religious sensibilities at the earliest
stages of the policy-making process. |
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President Clinton directed the Justice Department to file
a brief arguing that the RFRA entitled a church to retain money
contributed by a bankrupt couple. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court affirmed
President Clinton’s opinion, ruling that the protection of creditors
was not a compelling government interest of the sort required to
justify encroachment upon religious freedom under the
RFRA. |
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Directing the Justice Department to issue guidelines on
acceptable forms of religious expression in public schools. The
Administration’s 1995 Guidance on Religion in Public School directs
school officials to permit forms of religious expression, including
allowing students to bring Bibles to school, to participate in student
religious groups, and to say grace before meals. The President wanted
to give guidance that could help parents, teachers, school officials,
and community leaders work together to address these difficult
issues. |
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Working to end church arson. President Clinton moved
quickly to focus the nation’s attention and resources to help stop the
rash of church burnings across the country, prosecute those
responsible, and speed the rebuilding process. The President enacted
legislation toughening criminal penalties for those convicted of
burning religious institutions, providing loan guarantees to
non-profit groups — including churches — victimized by arson, and
appropriating funds to combat church arson. He also established a task
force to coordinate investigations of church fires and ordered the
establishment of a 24 hour, toll-free hotline to collect information
on church fires. |
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Recognizing the role of religious freedom in promoting
democratic virtues by declaring January 14th as Religious Freedom Day.
President Clinton invited Americans to use the day to reflect upon
“the awesome power of religious liberty, not only to unite the
citizenry in common cause, but also to empower us to question age-old
beliefs and lift this Nation toward
enlightenment.” |
Building on Our Progress
America is blessed with adherents of every significant religion, but what
truly distinguishes this nation is the ability of Americans of different
faiths to live side by side and work together for the common good. President
Clinton will continue to protect the religious freedom of every American by:
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Promoting character education. President Clinton will
continue to actively promote the teaching of ethical values in
America’s schools. Recognizing that basic moral values such as
discipline, tolerance, and civility are common to all beliefs, the
President will continue to encourage schools to teach young people how
to be good citizens as well as successful students. The Clinton
Administration has provided grants to help school districts develop
comprehensive character-education programs. |
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Continuing to use the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC) to protect religious freedom. President Clinton
ordered the EEOC to file its first class-action suit on the basis of
religion. The EEOC challenged Dillard Department Store’s mandatory
weekend work policy, ultimately settling the case in favor of the
claimants whose religious beliefs did not allow them to work during
the Sabbath. Many churches and synagogues were prepared to join the
government’s case as friends of the court. The President will continue
to use this option when
appropriate. |
Source: Bill Clinton for President 1996 Web Site |
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