Today, September 10^th, a wide range of religious leaders wrote to President Obama, asking him to maintain his administration’s commitment to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) as a protection for faith-based organizations that partner with the federal government. A group of progressive civil rights, religious, and LGBT groups several weeks ago had requested that the President withdraw a Department of Justice, Office of Legal Counsel, legal ruling that confirmed that use of RFRA.

Faith-based organizations are active throughout the United States and overseas daily, serving the common good in diverse ways consistent with their varied religious identities. Often they agree to accept government funding and to collaborate with government to serve particular needs. To be able to serve effectively, they need to be able to retain their religious inspiration and faith-shaped policies, such as the freedom to consider religion when they select people for their staff (just as environmental groups only choose nature-lovers as employees). The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, adopted nearly unanimously in 1993 by Congress and enthusiastically signed into law by President Bill Clinton, can be appealed to by a faith-based organization facing a serious legal restriction on its policies and practices. President Obama has confirmed that use of RFRA.

For more on the OLC memo and the request that it be withdrawn, see IRFA’s recent analysis.