Boston Globe article: 11/13/05 - Test of Faith

[TayTay]

Test of faith
A bill to protect religious freedom in the workplace gives Democrats a chance to change their image. But first they’ll have to agree it’s a good idea.


Senators John Kerry and Hillary Clinton on the campaign trail in 2004. Today they are cosponsors of the Workplace Religious Freedom Act. (Reuters Photo)

By Amy Sullivan | November 13, 2005

ONE OF THE enduring mysteries of the 2004 presidential race is why John Kerry failed to highlight, or even mention, one of his major Senate initiatives: legislation to protect the rights of religious individuals in the workplace. Kerry first introduced the Workplace Religious Freedom Act, or WRFA, in 1996-long before the Democratic Party started to worry about ''values'' voters-after two of his Catholic constituents were fired from their jobs because they refused to work on Christmas Eve. He has reintroduced the bill in every congressional session since, joined by fellow Catholic, and odd political bedfellow, Republican Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, an arch social conservative.

One would think that for Kerry, who was hounded by criticism from conservative Catholic bishops and looking to prove his religious bona fides during the campaign, an effort appealing to people across the religious and political spectrum should have been something he'd trumpet from the rooftops. Religious minorities love the bill because it would protect the right of Sikhs to wear their turbans on the job, for example, or of Orthodox Jews to swap work shifts in order to observe Yom Kippur. And Christian conservatives have embraced it because it reflects the fact that religious individuals have special concerns. A coalition of nearly 50 religious organizations-everyone from the Southern Baptist Convention and Family Research Council on the right to the National Council of Churches and American Jewish Committee on the left-supports WRFA.

What's more, the mere mention of a Kerry-Santorum bill causes heads to snap around in a double take. Best of all from the Kerry camp's perspective, because WRFA had been blocked by the business lobby-business groups oppose the idea that employers should have to make accommodations for religious workers-Kerry could present the bill as a measure to protect religious Americans that had been obstructed by Republican supporters.

Yet Kerry never mentioned his pet religious project on the campaign trail; the single campaign reference to the bill was one line at the very bottom of the ''People of Faith for Kerry'' page on the campaign's website. And on election day, the ''religion gap'' once again favored the Republican ticket.

More at: Test of Faith cont.

[TayTay]

1. So, combined with that info in the New Yorker article of last week

what does all this mean for the Democrats. (And for John Kerry.)

Committee Meetings held on 11/10/05

WORKPLACE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT OF 2005

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations held a hearing on H.R. 1445, Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2005. Testimony was heard from Representatives Souder and McCarthy; and public witnesses.

http://edworkforce.house.gov/press/press109/first/11nov/religiousfreedom111005.htm

Press Release from the House Committee:
Subcommittee Hears Testimony on

Souder Workplace Religious Freedom Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Witnesses before the House Employer-Employee Relations Subcommittee today discussed legislation sponsored by Education & the Workforce Committee Member Mark Souder (R-IN), the Workplace Religious Freedom Act (H.R. 1445), as well as the potential impact it would have on employers and the workplace.

The Workplace Religious Freedom Act would amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act by requiring employers to make an affirmative and bona fide effort to accommodate the religious practices of employees, unless doing so would create an undue hardship.

“This is an issue of great importance and deep interest to Members on both sides of the aisle,” said Subcommittee Chairman Sam Johnson (R-TX). “The issue is how, in the workforce, do we accommodate the beliefs and practices of those of strong religious faith? Put another way, how do we protect the rights of people of faith adhering to their beliefs in an increasingly diverse workplace? At the same time, how do we strike the right balance so that employers and businesses – often small businesses – are able to staff and run their operations in a productive manner while respecting all employees?”

Souder introduced H.R. 1445 on March 14, 2005 and was among the witnesses testifying on the bill at the hearing.

[karynnj]

2. I have mixed feeling about the claim that it's a mystery

that this wasn't highlighted. On one hand, it would have been a counter of sorts to the Kerry's going to take our Bibles crowd. But, how do you highlight something you introduced year after year for 8 years with no success. It shows persistance, but it runs the risk of highlighting a noble failure.

It's strange that the liberals are fighting it - it's too bad they can't see it as a rights issue.