

Religious Freedoms

It is illegal to discriminate against individuals on the basis of their religion. The term "religion" includes all aspects of religious belief, observance and practice. In 1993, Congress enacted the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The RFRA restores the government's burden to show a compelling and overriding interest where an individual's right to religious freedom is substantially restricted. The U.S. Supreme Court had eliminated the burden in a previous case. Further, the RFRA provides for a private right of action for those who have had the exercise of their religion substantially burdened by the government.