‘Religious freedom’ petition submitted

BISMARCK — Supporters of a North Dakota constitutional amendment that is meant to strengthen religious freedom have turned in petitions to put an initiative on the ballot.

Secretary of State Al Jaeger said the measure’s backers claim to have gathered about 30,000 signatures. They need at least 27,000 names.

The proposed amendment says the government must have a compelling interest before it regulates religious practices. Any regulation must be done in the least-restrictive manner possible.

Initiative campaign chairman Tom Freier of Fargo said other states have approved a similar amendment.

He said it would strengthen protections for religious freedom beyond what is allowed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

“The purpose of this is to uphold our First Amendment constitutional right of freedom of religion and especially the expression thereof,” he said Wednesday afternoon.

Samuel J. Aquila, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Fargo, was listed as a member of the sponsoring committee.

The diocesan office directed questions for Aquila to Christopher Dodson, executive director and general counsel for the North Dakota Catholic Conference.

Dodson said the amendment would return the law to the way it was before 1990, when, he said, “The U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision that watered down religious protection.”

Dodson was also listed on the sponsoring committee.

The NDCC’s website, www.ndcatholic.org, features two recorded messages from Aquila. In one he says:

“Our nation was founded upon the principle that religious liberty is a fundamental human and legal right. But religious freedom is increasingly under attack. Twenty-five states and the federal government have restored religious liberty to the full protection under the law but North Dakota has not. Now is the time for us to act.”

Another voice urges the listener to download a petition.

Jaeger has until May 25 to decide whether the petition has enough valid signatures to put the issue on the ballot.

The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead is owned by Forum Communications Co.

Tags: religious freedom, life, religion