In July, with little fanfare, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen signed a state Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law. The bill, similar to many in states across the country, requires the state to demonstrate a "compelling interest" and use the least restrictive means to place a burden on the exercise of religion. Now the Tennessee Municipal League is suggesting it should be changed or repealed altogether.
According to an article published by the Tennessee Municipal League, "Tennessee state and local governments will now face an uphill battle in upholding laws of general applicability when someone claiming religious offense cries foul."
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Supporters of the law said the concerns were unfounded.
"All we've said (in the law) is simply that the first freedom is the freedom of religion," said former state Republican Sen. David Fowler, the president of Family Action of Tennessee, which lobbied for passage of the measure.
"If it requires local governments to think about what they're doing rather than proceed willy-nilly, well, there's nothing wrong with that. It's appropriate to ask the government: 'Is there a compelling reason for what we're doing? Is there a lesser way to accomplish it without [affecting] someone's religious freedom?'"
