Altman: Resolution aims to protect religious freedom


Sunday, April 18, 2010

By Thad Altman—Florida Today

Our country was founded on religious freedom. Many new Americans came to this country to flee religious persecution, and it is no coincidence that the First Amendment to our U.S. Constitution assures religious freedom and prohibits a state religion.

Senate Joint Resolution 2550 is designed to protect religious freedom and prevent the state from discriminating against the public, nonreligious programs and services offered by faith-based organizations. If approved by the Legislature and Florida voters, SJR 2550 would remove a provision from our state Constitution that reflects past prejudice and discrimination.

In the 1800s, our young country was not only struggling with the bigotry of slavery but religious persecution as well. In 1855, U.S. House Speaker James Blaine worked in concert with a well-organized anti-Catholic group to legalize anti-Catholic bigotry. Although the Blaine Amendment failed at the congressional level, 38 states, including Florida, have since adopted Blaine provisions in their state constitutions.

Recently, anti-religious organizations have invoked the Blaine language in the Florida Constitution in efforts to stop faith-based organizations from offering public services. In its literal interpretation, this provision can prevent faith-based organizations from participating in publicly supported programs such as the Bright Futures program, Medicaid health care services provided by faith-based hospitals, and charitable services such as homeless shelters, food pantries, substance abuse and counseling services.

Just as the government is prohibited from favoring one religious sect over another, it should not force its citizens to favor a secular provider over a religious provider of their own choosing. The United States Supreme Court articulated in Mitchell v. Helms (530 U.S. 793) that Blaine provisions are “a shameful pedigree that we do not hesitate to disavow,” represent “doctrine, born of bigotry, should be buried now.”

Senate Joint Resolution 2550 is about providing choice and access for Floridians and protecting the religious freedom upon which our country was founded.

This article is reprinted from www.FloridaToday.com