RFRA and other religious liberty protections are a part of a larger set of cultural, legislative and legal efforts that will be required to navigate and resolve current conflicts over what it means to be human, created male and female. In that long-term effort, continuing to articulate and defend the rationale behind RFRA for the next generation is a good place to start.

Thirty years ago this month, the landmark Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) was signed into law. The enactment of RFRA was historic in a number of ways, from the broad coalition that rallied around it to the exceptional congressional resolve that passed it. But most of all, RFRA’s enactment was significant because of how the law contributes to practically implementing our first freedom and helping us navigate our differences as a society. Three decades later, that is more important than ever.

The basic principle behind RFRA is that when the government makes policy, it should not interfere with religious believers’ practice of their faith. The coalition that worked for RFRA’s passage brought together 66 diverse religious and civil rights organizations, from the Southern Baptists to the American Civil Liberties Union. Catholic, Jewish, Mormon, Muslim, and many other religious groups participated in the coalition.

Then a member of the House of Representatives, Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. was the lead House sponsor of RFRA and Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., sponsored the Senate bill. Support was so high that the House opted to pass the bill by voice vote and the Senate voted 97 to 3 for passage. President Clinton remarked at the signing ceremony, “the power of God is such that even in the legislative process miracles can happen.”

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