RFRA reaction ranges from 'sad day' and 'harmful' to 'right thing to do'
Here are some reactions to Gov. Mike Pence's signing Thursday of Senate Bill 101, called the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
"This is a sad day for Indiana. Over the past month, Hoosiers who want our state to be open to everyone filled the halls at the Statehouse. We wrote letters and delivered them in person. We called until they stopped answering the phones. We made it clear that this law will only be used to harm other Hoosiers, and that's not the Indiana way.
"The lawmakers didn't listen. The governor didn't listen.
"They ignored huge job creators and small businesses. They ignored churches and other institutions of faith. They dismissed the idea that a license to discriminate would make us unappealing to visitors and potential residents.
"We're proud of everything that was done to sound the alarm on this dangerous bill, and we'll do everything we can to make it clear that our state is not the kind of backward place this law makes us look like. But the damage has been done, and it's a real shame."
— Freedom Indiana, a coalition which opposed the bill.
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"Indiana's pro-life community is grateful to Gov. Mike Pence for signing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law. We are also thankful to the legislature for passing this bill by large margins in both chambers. This bill will give pro-lifers a necessary legal recourse if they are pressured to support abortion against their deeply-held religious beliefs.
"Religious freedom is increasingly under attack in our nation. We say Hobby Lobby win its case against the federal government's Obamacare mandate to provide abortion-causing drugs because of a defense hinging on federal RFRA law.
"Indiana's new religious freedom law is modeled after federal law introduced by Democrat Chuck Schumer and signed by Bill Clinton in 1993. Nineteen other states have RFRA laws on their books. Indiana legislators are wise to ensure religious beliefs will get due consideration in court, should Hoosiers be forced to act against their faith. RFRA is an important bill to protect the religious freedom of Hoosiers who believe the right to life comes from God, not government."
Mike Fichter, president and CEO, Indiana Right to Life
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"The timing of this legislation is all important to understanding its intent: the bill was introduced as a backlash reaction to achieving marriage equality for same-sex couples in Indiana.
"We are deeply disappointed that the governor and state lawmakers have been tone-deaf to the cries of legions of Hoosiers — including businesses, convention leaders, faith communities and more than 10,000 people who signed petitions against the bill — who say they don't want this harmful legislation to impair the reputation of our state and harm our ability to attract the best and brightest to Indiana.
"While on its face the law is constitutional, only time will tell the full consequences of the state RFRA. It poses harm to our reputation as a welcoming state that is open to everyone and it disrupts the balance that respects individuals' freedom of religion without jeopardizing others' freedom from discrimination. The ACLU will remain vigilant to the effects of SB 101 and we will continue to push lawmakers and the courts until all members of the LGBT community receive the Constitution's full protection from discrimination and unequal treatment. We have been fighting for the LGBT community for over seven decades. We will keep on fighting to end discrimination wherever we see it, for as long as it takes.
— Jane Henegar, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana
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"Is it going to help the business community? Shouldn't the legislators be passing bills that help the business community, not hurt us?"
"My great-grandmother, Rebecca Shapiro, once said: The only bad customer is the one that doesn't come in. On a personal basis, these types of legislation, it's very difficult for somebody being Jewish. I think it helps foster anti-Semitism and a lack of tolerance."
— Brian Shapiro, owner of Shapiro's deli
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"It is vitally important to protect religious freedom in Indiana. It's the right thing to do. It was therefore important to pass Senate Bill 101 in 2015 in order to help protect churches, Christian businesses and individuals from those who want to punish them because of their Biblical beliefs!"
— Eric Miller, founder and executive director of Advance America
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"SB 101 #RFRA is now law. Want to thank @GovPenceIN for standing firm for #Religious Freedom."
Micah Clark, executive director of the American Family Association of Indiana
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"There are just as many, and possibly even more, reasons to oppose this bill on the basis of Jewish, Christian or Muslim principles, as to support it. Some of the news reporting on this bill is getting this issue right. See, for example, the Disciples of Christ's statement not to hold conventions in Indianapolis.
"In both the Jewish and Christian versions of the Bible, protection of, solidarity with and hospitality for the stranger, the foreigner and the one with whom you disagree are stressed. Think here, for Christians, of the lessons of Jesus sharing meals with social outcasts. Consider also, for both Jews and Christians, the lesson of the story of Sodom — which was not considered a story about same-sex eroticism — that the people of Sodom are punished for violating the code of hospitality. Throughout the rest of the Jewish and Christian versions of the Bible, the lessons of this story are the importance of hospitality to strangers — those who are different — and the problem with ignoring the poor, the vulnerable and the needy."
— Joseph Marchal, a religious studies professor at Ball State University
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"United Way of Central Indiana took no formal policy position on Senate Enrolled Act 101. We are, however, committed to serving the whole community and being an employer that embraces and respects the diversity of our community."
— Ann D. Murtlow, President and CEO, United Way of Central Indiana
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"In the face of opposition from Indiana's LGBT community, Indiana's business community, and the majority of Americans who believe a business should not be able to refuse services to individuals because they are gay or lesbian, Governor Mike Pence and the Republican Party decided to move forward with a damaging bill that turns back the clock on the progress we have made for LGBT equality.
"By signing this blatantly discriminatory bill that will only drive business out of his state, Pence reminds every Hoosier and every American that the Republican Party is more focused on its ideological social agenda than it is on expanding opportunity for the middle class and growing our economy.
"And the fact is, Republican presidential hopeful Mike Pence is far from alone on this issue. Jeb Bush, Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio have all voiced support for similar legislation and policies that would give businesses the right to refuse services to LGBT people. Just imagine if these politicians had the chance to bring this dangerous and divisive agenda to the White House.
"So while Republicans applaud Mike Pence for allowing Indiana businesses to discriminate against the LBGT community, Democrats will continue to stand with our community and fight for a more inclusive society in Indiana and across the country."
— Ray Buckley, Democratic National Committee vice chairman
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"The Indiana General Assembly and Governor have sent a dangerous and discriminatory message with this new law. They've basically said, as long as your religion tells you to, it's OK to discriminate against people despite what the law says.
"This new law hurts the reputation of Indiana and will have unacceptable implications for LGBT people and other minorities throughout the state. Astoundingly, Indiana representatives ignored the warnings of businesses and fair-minded Hoosiers, and now business owners and corporations are forced to consider other options when looking at states to invest in."
— Sarah Warbelow, legal director of the Human Rights Campaign
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"Today's decision by Indiana Governor Mike Pence to sign the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law sends the terrible and dangerous message that discrimination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals disguised as 'religious freedom' is acceptable. With this law, the Indiana legislature and Gov. Pence have made it clear that they consider LGBT lives to be of less value than others, an especially harmful message to send to LGBT youth who are often bullied, harassed and discriminated against at school. We applaud the businesses and organizations that have already taken action against this discriminatory law and call on many more to do the same."
— Dr. Eliza Byard, executive director of GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network