Opinion ID: 70257
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: free exercise clause and religious freedom restoration act

Text: 18 American Life League also addressed the argument that the Act offends the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA), 42 U.S.C. Secs. 2000bb to 2000bb-4. 10 We concur with the Fourth Circuit that the Act is generally applicable and neutral toward religion and, therefore, does not offend the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause. 47 F.3d at 654. We adopt the reasoning of Part V.A. of the American Life League opinion. 19 Appellants also argue that the Access Act violates their rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The RFRA provides in pertinent part: 20 Government may substantially burden a person's exercise of religion only if it demonstrates that application of the burden to the person--1) is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and 2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling government interest. 21 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000bb-1. In American Life League, the Fourth Circuit found that the plaintiffs had adequately pled that the Act substantially burdened their religious practice, but held that the Act survived RFRA scrutiny as the least restrictive means to achieve compelling government interests. 47 F.3d at 654-56. Unlike the plaintiffs in American Life League, the appellants here have not argued that the Access Act substantially burdens their religious practice. Appellants' brief on appeal merely asserts that they have a sincerely held religious belief that abortion is murder, and that the Access Act chills their expression of that belief. However, appellants do not assert that the exercise of their religion requires them to use physical force or threats of physical force to prevent abortions. Moreover, unlike the plaintiffs in American Life League, appellants do not argue that the exercise of their religion requires them to physically obstruct clinic entrances. Because we hold that the Access Act does not chill appellants in the exercise of their First Amendment right of expression, it follows that they have not been chilled in the particular expression of their religious belief that abortion is murder. The Access Act leaves ample avenues open for appellants to express their deeply-held belief so long as this expression does not involve physical force, threats of such force, or physical obstruction. Therefore, as the Act does not substantially burden the only religious practices that appellants assert on appeal, we hold that the Act survives appellants' challenge under the RFRA without reaching, as the Fourth Circuit did, whether the Act is the least restrictive means to further a compelling state interest. 11