U.S. Civil Rights Commission report gives free exercise of religion second-tier status

[Stan]

In a stunning report, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Chairman Martin Castro attacked the Religious Freedom Restoration Act at both the state and federal level, challenged the terms "religious liberty" and "religious liberty" as code for intolerance, and argued that free exercise rights should yield to other civil rights if they come into conflict.

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[Gregory Matthews]

It is difficult, if not impossible to sum up a 296 page report in either a few sentences, or paragraphs, or pages. and in doing so be fair to the author.  The Religious Freedom and Restoration Act was clearly needed to protect free exercise rights. But, all Constitutional rights have limits and boundaries.  It is on these that honest people may differ.

Unfortunately, the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Hobby Lobby has opened the door for some people to assert religious rights that lie outside of rational boundaries that are likely to be acceptable to our society.  A result of this is likely to be a reaction that attempts further  restrict religious rights beyond what is appropriate.

We may not like everything, or even anything, that Martin Castor said.  But, he does have a point.  It should be of concern to all of us that the pendulum may now swing in another direction well beyond what is appropriate.