The acronym "RFRA" stands for the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a law that aims to protect individuals' religious freedom. Its spelling can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as: /ɑr ɛf ɛr ˈeɪ/, with each letter corresponding to its sound. This law has been the subject of controversy as it has been used to excuse discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals. However, supporters argue that it upholds constitutional rights to religious freedom.
The acronym RFRA stands for the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. It refers to a statute enacted by the United States Congress in 1993 with the objective of protecting the religious freedom rights of individuals and certain organizations. The primary intent behind RFRA is to prevent the government from burdening individual religious beliefs or practices, unless it can establish a compelling interest and demonstrates that the burden is the least restrictive means of achieving that interest.
RFRA provides a legal framework to protect individuals from governmental actions that may infringe upon their exercises of religion. It requires the government to meet a strict scrutiny standard when enforcing laws that impact religious practices and provides a potential legal defense for individuals and organizations who may claim that their religious freedom is being violated.
Under RFRA, if an individual or organization can establish that a government law or action substantially burdens their religious exercise, it triggers a test to determine if the government can justify that burden. The government must demonstrate that the burden is necessary to further a compelling government interest and that it is the least restrictive means to achieve that interest.
This legislation has been instrumental in shaping the legal landscape concerning religious freedom cases in the United States. It has been applied in various contexts including employment, land use, and health care matters, often resulting in complex legal analysis and interpretations.
At the state level, some states have passed their own versions of RFRA to provide additional protections for religious freedom. These state-level RFRA statutes can vary in their scope and specific provisions but are generally inspired by the federal RFRA.