Palm Coast Rabbi Heads to Washington to Lobby

Palm Coast Rabbi Heads to Washington to Lobby for

Workplace Religious Freedom Act

Should police officers be sued if they refuse, on religious grounds, to guard a women’s health clinic where abortions are performed? Must a hospital continue to employ a nurse who tells patients AIDS is contracted because God “doesn’t like the homosexual?” Can a drugstore fire a pharmacist who refuses, because of his religious beliefs, to fill prescriptions for the “morning after” pill?

As the Workplace Religious Freedom Act comes before the United States House of Representatives, Palm Coast’s Rabbi Merrill Shapiro and his wife Robyn, headed for Capitol Hill to lobby, under the auspices and arrangements of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, in the office of Congressman John Mica. In a meeting in the Congressman’s office, the Shapiros spoke of the cornerstones of American society, religious freedom and religious pluralism. “Because of this freedom, each of us has the right to practice, or not practice, the religion of our choice or no religion at all,” Robyn Shapiro, told Brian Waldrip, the eight-term congressman’s Legislative Director, “Yet each of us also should have a right to be able to work!”

The Shapiros and Americans United for Separation of State, feel that the current language of the Workplace Religious Freedom Act is much too broad and will unduly restrain employers who find themselves with employees who refuse to perform their jobs by virtue of their claim of religious freedom. “The law should be written to protect those who wear certain religious garb, such as turbans or burkas and to protect those who need reasonable time off for the celebration of religious holy days, “ Rabbi Shapiro maintains, “but not to protect practices that would harm fellow employees, clients, customers and patients.”

The Shapiros were pleased with the response to their arguments, but remain concerned about the legislation and its potential impact. “All in all, weighing in with our representative in the Congress of the United States, is an especially satisfying practice of the democratic principles that make this country great!” the Shapiros agreed.