Indiana RFRA and the Future of Religious Liberty in America

Religious Liberties Practice Group Teleforum

Last month, the Indiana General Assembly passed and Indiana Gov. Michael R. Pence signed Indiana Senate Bill 101, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Various organizations denounced the statute for creating a state-sanctioned "right to discriminate." Various business leaders implied they might seek to relocate their headquarters outside Indiana or reconsider decisions to hold meetings or events in Indiana. Some Governors in other states have issued executive orders banning non-essential travel to Indiana.

Proponents of the legislation cited that the Indiana RFRA merely mirrored the substance of the federal RFRA, signed into law by President Clinton in 1993, and the substance of state RFRAs already in place in 19 other states. Opponents decried the Indiana RFRA on the grounds that it did not include provisions barring discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.

Meanwhile, the Arkansas legislature passed and forwarded a similar bill to Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Notre Dame Law School Professor Gerard V. Bradley will discuss the specifics of the law in Indiana, how the law might be amended, and the implications, both of the statute in its current form and as likely to be amended, for religious freedom.

• Prof. Gerard V. Bradley, University of Notre Dame Law School

Last month, the Indiana General Assembly passed and Indiana Gov. Michael R. Pence signed Indiana Senate Bill 101, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Various organizations denounced the statute for creating a state-sanctioned "right to discriminate." Various business leaders implied they might seek to relocate their headquarters outside Indiana or reconsider decisions to hold meetings or events in Indiana. Some Governors in other states have issued executive orders banning non-essential travel to Indiana.

Proponents of the legislation cited that the Indiana RFRA merely mirrored the substance of the federal RFRA, signed into law by President Clinton in 1993, and the substance of state RFRAs already in place in 19 other states. Opponents decried the Indiana RFRA on the grounds that it did not include provisions barring discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.

Meanwhile, the Arkansas legislature passed and forwarded a similar bill to Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Notre Dame Law School Professor Gerard V. Bradley will discuss the specifics of the law in Indiana, how the law might be amended, and the implications, both of the statute in its current form and as likely to be amended, for religious freedom.

• Prof. Gerard V. Bradley, University of Notre Dame Law School

Call begins at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

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