Legislature expected to pass broad religious freedom bill

Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz

By The Star Staff

Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz announced on Thursday that the island Legislature will pass a bill promoting religious freedom in all aspects of people’s lives, including within public schools.

“During the campaign, some criticized our party for including the issue of religious freedom in our platform and for my commitment to addressing it,” Rivera Schatz said. “Some individuals, claiming to represent the gay community, have been accused of dishonest and unethical behavior, yet now they seek to be viewed as advocates for human rights.”

The proposed legislation will protect the rights of individuals who refuse vaccinations due to their religious beliefs. It will apply to all citizens, including state employees, officials, students, parents, guardians, those responsible for the public education system, patients in medical facilities, and the elderly, whether in public or private care.

If approved, the measure will also ensure that congregations or faith-based organizations are not discriminated against when accessing government services, funding, materials, proposals, and other programs available to non-religious entities.

“The bill does not infringe upon anyone’s rights, nor does it oppose any segment of the population,” the Senate president stressed. “Under no circumstances does it promote discrimination, exclusion, or denial of service to anyone in the Government of Puerto Rico, and this must be made clear.”

Senate Bill 1 aims to establish the “Law of the Fundamental Right to Religious Freedom in Puerto Rico” by amending Article Five of Law 25 of 1983, which recognizes religious freedom as a right in Puerto Rico.

The legislation will allow students in schools within the Department of Education (DE) to express their religious beliefs through their schoolwork, artwork and literature, among other assignments. Currently, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholds a ban on school prayer.

Should the Senate bill become law, students will be allowed to wear clothing, accessories, and garments that display religious messages or symbols, and they may pray or participate in religious activities on their own initiative. According to the bill, the DE must provide student religious groups access to the same facilities as secular groups.

Furthermore, the government cannot prevent teaching and non-teaching staff from participating in voluntary religious activities on school premises, as long as those activities do not conflict with their responsibilities, according to the bill.

If the bill is approved, the DE will be required to develop guidelines regarding religious expression by students and staff in public schools, which will be made publicly available on the DE portal, among other provisions.

A few years ago, international pop music star Ricky Martin condemned a bill that would have allowed government employees to refuse service to constituents if it conflicted with their religious beliefs. That previous bill sparked significant backlash on the island from civil rights and LGBTQ activists, as well as from at least three U.S. Democratic presidential candidates.