WASHINGTON - This weekend, Indiana passing a state version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act caused an uproar among liberal commentators.
There was no such controversy when President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore congratulated representatives of diverse groups such as National Evangelical Association and the American Civil Liberties Union, and Traditional Families as well as People for the American Way in the Free Exercise of Religion Coalition for agreeing to protect religious liberties.
A 97 to 3 vote in the U.S. Senate and via voice vote in the U.S. House delivered overwhelming support for religious freedom.
"We want to keep government out of people's lives," Gore said before the 1993 signing of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. "We want Americans free to practice their religion not as government sees fit, but as they see fit."
