What is the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) primarily about?

• A. Limiting federal government ability to restrict religious beliefs without compelling justification.
• B. Forcing faith-based clinics to provide contraception.
• C. Authorization for religious institutions to receive subsidies.
• D. Allowing individuals to opt out of all healthcare on religious grounds.

Answer: (A)

RFRA protects the freedom to practice religion by requiring the government to treat religious exercise with heightened protection. When a law or government action substantially burdens a person’s religious practice, RFRA requires the federal government to show a compelling interest and to use the least restrictive means to achieve that interest. This higher standard, sometimes called strict scrutiny, is designed to prevent federal actions from unnecessarily interfering with religious beliefs and practices.

This focus means the measure is about limiting federal power to restrict religious exercise unless there’s a strong justification and a narrowly tailored solution. It isn’t about forcing contraception on faith-based groups, granting special subsidies to religious institutions, or letting individuals opt out of healthcare entirely on religious grounds.