Rev. Britt Skarda: Religious Freedom Is Cemented In Constitution

Editor’s note: Rev. Britt Skarda, the author of this guest commentary, is the senior pastor at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in Little Rock.

The right to religious freedom is cemented in our constitution, as well as state and federal law. As a person of faith and Christian pastor, I hold that freedom and responsibility dear. Time and time again, my right and the right of religious believers across this country to share our faith has been upheld by both state and federal authority. So it is with deep concern that I must speak out against House Bill 1228.

The bill purports to protect the rights of people of faith in our state from being unfairly burdened by government actions that might go against their religious beliefs. But rather than creating an environment of religious acceptance, the vague and far-reaching bill will create nothing other than total chaos for our state.

It would allow anyone to sue the government if they believe that entity is executing a government action to infringe on their personal religious beliefs. Parents could sue a teacher for enforcing an anti-bullying policy. A police officer could refuse to patrol the area around a church or synagogue because doing so would violate their religious beliefs.

Let’s put aside the legalese and the inevitable flurry of lawsuits that would result from such vague and distorted legislation. At its heart, this bill and those like it being proposed in states across the country fly in the face of our responsibility to one another. We are indebted with the responsibility to care for one another, not only by our religious beliefs but by our civil requirements as well. We function best as a community when we take care of our neighbors, our classmates, our coworkers and our friends, not because they’re like us, but because it’s the right thing to do.

What does such legislation say about our state? Does it tell the world just how welcoming Arkansans can be? Does it let outsiders know that there’s no better place in the world to grow up, to raise a family, to grow old than Arkansas? Or does it tell others that Arkansas is no place for them? What message are we really sharing?

We deserve better. We deserve laws that uphold the First Amendment of the Constitution but also protect our neighbors and friends from harmful discrimination. We deserve legislation that prioritizes what Arkansans really need, and puts aside rhetoric and divisiveness that will only pull our state backwards. We deserve better than HB 1228.