What’s Good for Justices is Good for all Working Americans The Church’s Office of Legislative Affairs applauds Supreme Court Decision to Accommodate Jewish Jus

What’s Good for Justices is Good for all Working Americans The Church’s Office of Legislative Affairs applauds Supreme Court Decision to Accommodate Jewish Jus Washington DC—For the first time in 28 years, the nation’s highest court is forgoing arguments scheduled for the first Monday of October, Yom Kippur. The session will be delayed in deference to the religious practices of Jewish justices, Justices Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Steven Breyer. While the religious accommodation of the justices is a religious liberties landmark, James Standish, director of legislative affairs for the Seventh-day Adventist Church notes that there is still much to be done to ensure every American enjoys the same respect accorded Justice Ginsburg and Justice Breyer. "We are delighted by the consideration the Supreme Court is giving to the religious practices of its colleagues. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court itself through its limited interpretation of the religious accommodation provisions of Title VII of the US Civil Rights Act, ensured that other people of faith frequently do not enjoy the same level of respect for their religious practices in the American workplace. It is time that all Americans be afforded respect for their deeply held religious beliefs,” said Standish. In order to better accommodate the religious practices of all Americans, a broad coalition of 45 religious organizations have come together to support the passage of the Workplace Religious Freedom Act. This bill is designed to ensure that employers take reasonable steps to accommodate the religious practices of all Americans. If passed, the bill would provide many Adventists a shield from employers who traditionally have refused to accommodate Sabbath beliefs. For more information about how you can help insure the passing of the Workplace Religious Freedom Act visit www.religiousliberty.info and http://ola.adventist.org SPONSOR OF THE WORKPLACE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT (S. 893) Sen. Rick Santorum (PA) COSPONSORS Sen. Evan Bayh (IN) Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY) Sen. Jon Corzine (NJ) Sen. Michael D. Crapo (ID) Sen. John E. Ensign (NV) Sen. John Kerry (MA) Sen. Barbara Mikulski (MD) Sen. Charles E. Schumer (NY) Sen. Arlen Specter (PA) Sen. Jim Talent (MO) Sen. Sam Brownback (KS) Sen. Norm Coleman (KS) Sen. Larry E. Craig (ID) Sen. Richard J. Durbin (IL) Sen. Orin Hatch (UT) Sen. Joseph Lieberman (CT) Sen. Patty Murray (OR) Sen. Gordon Smith (OR) Sen. Debbie Stabenow (MI) Sen. Ron Wyden (OR)

What’s Good for Justices is Good for all Working Americans

The Church’s Office of Legislative Affairs applauds Supreme Court Decision to Accommodate Jewish Jus

Washington DC—For the first time in 28 years, the nation’s highest court is forgoing arguments scheduled for the first Monday of October, Yom Kippur. The session will be delayed in deference to the religious practices of Jewish justices, Justices Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Steven Breyer.

While the religious accommodation of the justices is a religious liberties landmark, James Standish, director of legislative affairs for the Seventh-day Adventist Church notes that there is still much to be done to ensure every American enjoys the same respect accorded Justice Ginsburg and Justice Breyer. "We are delighted by the consideration the Supreme Court is giving to the religious practices of its colleagues. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court itself through its limited interpretation of the religious accommodation provisions of Title VII of the US Civil Rights Act, ensured that other people of faith frequently do not enjoy the same level of respect for their religious practices in the American workplace. It is time that all Americans be afforded respect for their deeply held religious beliefs,” said Standish.

In order to better accommodate the religious practices of all Americans, a broad coalition of 45 religious organizations have come together to support the passage of the Workplace Religious Freedom Act. This bill is designed to ensure that employers take reasonable steps to accommodate the religious practices of all Americans. If passed, the bill would provide many Adventists a shield from employers who traditionally have refused to accommodate Sabbath beliefs.

For more information about how you can help insure the passing of the Workplace Religious Freedom Act visit www.religiousliberty.info and http://ola.adventist.org

SPONSOR OF THE WORKPLACE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT (S. 893)

Sen. Rick Santorum (PA)

COSPONSORS

Sen. Evan Bayh (IN)

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY)

Sen. Jon Corzine (NJ)

Sen. Michael D. Crapo (ID)

Sen. John E. Ensign (NV)

Sen. John Kerry (MA)

Sen. Barbara Mikulski (MD)

Sen. Charles E. Schumer (NY)

Sen. Arlen Specter (PA)

Sen. Jim Talent (MO)

Sen. Sam Brownback (KS)

Sen. Norm Coleman (KS)

Sen. Larry E. Craig (ID)

Sen. Richard J. Durbin (IL)

Sen. Orin Hatch (UT)

Sen. Joseph Lieberman (CT)

Sen. Patty Murray (OR)

Sen. Gordon Smith (OR)

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (MI)

Sen. Ron Wyden (OR)

Featured in: October 2003

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