Confessional Rights Act

== Summary ==
Sponsored by VIU member, Javed Kharter the Confessional Rights Act both provides guarantees for religious privacy of individuals and military personnel, while restricting religious organization and autonomy. The Confessional Rights Act is the first such codification of both a right to individual religious privacy within the FVRC as well as the regulation and restriction of organized religious institutions and groups. The Act has proved to be extremely polarizing, both among ardent vanguardists accusing the bill of protecting potential religious extremists, and by civil rights activists and religious proponents for persecuting Church autonomy. 
== Legislation Text ==
=== Preamble ===
To establish provisions governing religious expression, affiliation, and organizational operation within the Federal Vanguardist Rëal Commonwealth (FVRC), ensuring that no individual or group is compelled, restricted, or unduly privileged based on their religious beliefs, while preserving the integrity of state directives and public order.
=== Section 1: Protection of Individual Religious Rights ===
# No person shall be legally compelled to disclose their religious faith or identity to law enforcement, government entities, or private sector employers as a condition for employment or any other purpose.
# Military personnel are permitted to keep their religious affiliations private.
# Individuals who voluntarily choose to publicly express their religious faith shall not face discrimination in employment, access to government benefits, housing, or other aspects of societal participation.
=== Section 2: Regulation of Religious Organizations ===
# Independent religious denominations and unaffiliated houses of worship are permitted to operate, provided they register with Section 4 Internal Affairs.
# Any religious organization that fails to register with Section 4 shall be subject to closure, and its members may face legal consequences.
=== Section 3: Special Provisions for the Ravelian Lilac Church ===
# The Ravelian faith may operate independently, subject to the following conditions: a. Preaching must not contravene state directives. b. Preachers and clergy must generally support the state. c. Proselytizing is prohibited.
# The appointment of senior clergy, including archbishops, requires government approval. Only candidates deemed sufficiently supportive of state policies shall be permitted.
=== Section 4: Conditions for the Corinite Church ===
# The Corinite Church may operate within the FVRC under government supervision, with the following stipulations: a. All clergy appointments (e.g., bishops and cardinals) must be FVRC citizens and are subject to government approval, with the government retaining veto power. b. The church may resume worship services at the Cathedral of Zun. The government will maintain security control of the Cathedral but allow religious ceremonies.
# Failure to comply with these conditions will result in the outlawing of the Corinite Church and the transfer of the Cathedral of Zun to the Ravelian Church.
=== Section 5: Prohibited Organizations and Practices ===
# Membership in the Ordo Deorum and the Sons of Corin is strictly prohibited, and these organizations are banned from operating within the FVRC.
# Followers of the Path of the Cycles may privately practice their faith but are prohibited from: a. Organizing religious gatherings. b. Establishing formal churches. c. Proselytizing or spreading their beliefs.
=== Enactment Clause ===
This Act shall take effect immediately upon passage, and all conflicting laws or regulations are hereby repealed.
== Domestic Reaction ==
=== National Assembly ===
==== Vanguard Internationalist Union (VIU) ====
Party leadership has affirmed the support of the party for the legislation, but advised a period of consultation and legislative review. Political commentators believe there are very likely deep fractures within the party over the Confessional Rights Act (CRA), mainly from the hardline Vanguardist wing who oppose the protection of religious privacy. 
==== The Chainbreakers ====
While generally supportive of Section 1: Protection of Individual Religious Rights, the Chainbreakers firmly oppose the government regulation and prohibition of religious institutions. 
==== People's Revolutionary Movement (PRM) ====
Party leadership has indicated the PRM is generally supportive of the CRA, contingent on negotiation with the government, they have also proposed clarifying amendments to require religious leadership positions to be approved through a vote of the National Assembly rather than Section 4.
==== Society and Progress Party (S&P) ====
The S&P has firmly opposed the Confessional Act, proposing that all Sections with the exception of Section 1, be struck from the legislation. Party leadership has denounced it as an affront to the personal and religious liberties of FVRC citizens. 
==== Forward Party ====
A spokesperson for the Forward Party has said, "we in the Forward Party are committed to taking our nation forward, this legislation does the opposite."
==== Constitutional Democratic Party (Cadets) ====
Party leadership of the Cadets has affirmed that they have no plans to support the government on this Act. 
==== Peasant and Farmer Collective (PFC) ====
The largest opposition party within the Assembly, the Peasant and Farmer Collective has stated they will use "all means at our disposal" to prevent the passage of the Confessional Rights Act, calling the erosion of religious freedom and sacrosanct Church rights, as the most pressing threat to the society of the "Lilac Republic." 
==== Nationalist Party ====
The Nationalist Party has expressed it's firm opposition to the CRA and affirmed their solidarity and support for the six unfairly persecuted and targeted soldiers of the 1st Armoured Division. 
==== Obsidian Path ====
Leadership of the Obsidian Path has denounced the "flagrant and provocative actions of this Vanguardist government" and recommended the resignation of the Executive Committee and calling snap election. 
=== FVRC Armed Forces ===
A spokesperson for the FVRC Armed Forces issued a short statement, "the Armed Forces of the FVRC does not comment on ongoing legislation or political matters, but supports all actions to protect it's brave men and women in uniform, regardless of their personal persuasion." 
=== Citizens Defence Directive (CDD) ===
Commander Raad and other leaders within the CDD have harshly criticized the "feckless half measures, and religious sympathizing" of the Confessional Rights Act. He has instead called for the Act to mandate religious identification of citizens, and the dissolution of "all poisonous churches and temples and other blights on our society, corrupting our citizens." 
=== Rael Citizen Rights League (RCRL) ===
A pro-Vanguardist, Rael Citizen advocacy group, the RCRL has complained that Section 1 of this legislation risks harming Vanguardist businesses and organizations who will be unable to vet potentially dangerous and disruptive individuals. 
=== Esharan Creed ===
The largest Ravelian sect within the FVRC and the historically dominant religious sect within the Lilac Kingdoms, currently comprising 34% of the FVRC population. The Esharan Creed is widespread amongst the Ravelian population of Western Ardenica. While not a centralized religion, a council of religious leaders from within the FVRC's Esharan Creed has announced their opposition to the CRA and its attempt to force religious subservience to the state. 
=== Ravelian Lilac Church ===
A smaller more progressive local sect of the Ravelian faith within the FVRC representing approximately 7% of the FVRC population. Representatives of the Church have stated that they believe that can work to achieve compliance with the government, by avoiding topics that would contravene government security or stability, but must retain freedom to preach on "matters of conscience." 
== International Reaction ==
The following are statements of government spokespeople and associated representatives. 
=== Perinost ===
"The CRA represents religious bigotry of the highest order, and another concerning step on the personal freedoms of all people within the FVRC."
=== Kalmo ===
"Kalmo respects the internal affairs of all independent nations, though this is a troubling step on the religious rights of Akaska-Dravus faithful and others of faith within the FVRC"
=== Savia ===
"The Savian Vanguard Republic does not suffer terrorists and extremists to hide in our society, nor to we let Churches to preach their filth under the blanket of the State."
=== Corinite Church ===
"In the most ardent terms the Corinite Church, and all faithful under Corin's name reject any and all attempts to interfere with the sacrosanct appointment of Church clergy. Any Corinite members cooperating with this directive will face excommunication from the Church."