|
Summarized by Michael Nielsen
Congress OKs end to religious zoning bias
WASHINGTON, DC -- A bill intended to stop restrictive zoning
practices against churches passed by a voice vote in both the House
and the Senate. The bill, sponsored by LDS Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
represents a compromise on a broader bill. The original bill would
have ensured a wider range of activities, such as door-to-door
missionary activity and Jewish schoolchildren's ability to wear
yarmulkes. Concerns over the constitutionality of the earlier bill
prompted the passage of the weaker, revised bill.
Hatch said that "at the core of religious freedom is the ability for
assemblies to gather and worship together. Finding a location to do
so, however, can be quite difficult when faced with pervasive land
regulations."
The difficulty of finding a location to build churches and temples
was exacerbated following Supreme Court decisions that local
governments used to prohibit building any religious buildings. Cities
such as Forest Hills, Tennessee, refused to let the LDS Church build
a temple at an intersection where three other churches already were
present. The city argued that there already were enough churches at
the intersection, and would not allow any more to be constructed.
"America is the most successful multi-faith country in all recorded
history largely due to both components of the phrase 'religious
liberty,' " Hatch said. "Surely it is because of our Constitution's
zealous protection of liberty that so many religions have flourished
and so many faiths have worshipped on this soil. This measure is an
important protection of our religious liberty."
Hatch's bill also adds protections to the religious practices of
mental hospital patients and prisoners, provided that they do not
negatively affect institutional security or discipline.
Source:
Congress OKs end to religious zoning bias
Deseret News 28Jul00 N1
By Lee Davidson: Deseret News Washington correspondent
|
