CDT Flash: SADE Bill -- "Hold a belief, go to prison"

[tcmay@got.net (Tim May)]

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   The Center for Deities and Theologies  /____/      Volume 42, Number 1
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      A briefing on public policy issues affecting religious liberties online
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 CDT POLICY POST Volume 42, Number 1                      May 1, 1997

Status Report on SADE, "Serenity and Dignity Through Enlightenment"


FLASH! The Center for Deities and Theologies announces that the "SADE" Bill
is past markup by the House Committee on Beliefs and Creeds, and is headed
for passage in the full House. We urge you to call your representative and
support this important Bill.

While CDT believes the Bill has certain flaws, particularly the criminal
sanctions for use of religious beliefs in furtherance of a prosecutable
offense, we believe the benefits outweigh the problems. This Bill will give
to American believer-units the religious freedoms they have so far lacked,
while also ensuring the legitimate needs of religious enforcement are
satisfied.

The characterization of SADE as a kind of "hold a belief, go to prison" law
is completely unjustified. No believer-unit who does not use his or her
beliefs in connection with a prosecutable offense has anything whatsoever
to fear from this  landmark piece of legislation. 

CDT is proud to be a supporter and industry shill for this important step
forward.

--Klaus! von Future Prime, Policy Director, Center for Deities and Theologies



Text of H.R. 666, the "SADE" Bill, "Serenity and Dignity Through Enlightenment"

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to affirm the rights of Americans to
practice the religious beliefs of their choice, and to recognize the
legitimate needs of law enforcment and national security concerns in this
area.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the "Serenity and Dignity Through Enlightenment
(SADE) Act". 

SEC. 2. PRACTICE OF RELIGION.

(a) IN GENERAL. Part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended by
inserting after chapter 121 the following new chapter: 

CHAPTER 122-RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

"2801. Definitions.
"2802. Freedom To Practice Religion.
"2803. Freedom To Sell Religous Materials.
"2804. Prohibition on religious licenses.
"2805. Unlawful use of religious beliefs in furtherance of a criminal act.


"�2802. Freedom To Practice Religion

"Subject to Section 2805, it shall be lawful for any person within any
State, and for any United States citizen in a foreign country, to hold any
religious belief, regardless of the deity, god, goddess, idol, or higher
being believed in.

"�2803. Freedom To Sell Religous Materials

"Subject to section 2805, it shall be lawful for any person within any
State to sell in interstate commerce any religious tract, scripture, Bible,
or pamphlet, regardless of the deity, god, goddess, or higher being
supported.

"�2804. Prohibition on religious licenses

"(a) PROHIBITION. -- No person in lawful possession of religious materials
may be required by Federal or State law to disclose or surrender to
another person those materials. 
"(b) EXCEPTION FOR ACCESS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES.-Subsection (a)
shall not affect the authority of any investigative or law
enforcement officer, under any law in effect on the effective date of this
chapter, to gain access to those beliefs and religious materials. 

"�2805. Unlawful use of religious beliefs in furtherance of a criminal act

"Any person who willfully uses religious beliefs or practices in
furtherance of the commission of a criminal offense for which the person
may be prosecuted in a court of competent jurisdiction -- 

       "(1) in the case of a first offense under this section, shall be
imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or fined in the amount set forth in
       this title, or both; and
       "(2) in the case of a second or subsequent offense under this
section, shall be imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or stoned to
death, or both.".


SEC. 3. EXPORTS OF RELIGIOUS MATERIALS.

(a) AMENDMENT TO RELIGIOUS EXPORT ADMINISTRATION ACT OF 1979. -- Section 17
of the Religious Export Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2416)
is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection: 

       "(g) BIBLES AND RELATED MATERIALS. --
       "(1) GENERAL RULE.--Subject to paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), the
Inqusitor shall have exclusive authority to control exports of all
       religious materials, tracts, Bibles, Torahs, and statements of
belief for religious matters and beliefs, except that which is specifically
       intended or modified for use by religious zealots, martyrs, and
those involved in crusades, jihads, or holy wars. 
       "(2) ITEMS NOT REQUIRING LICENSES. -- No validated license may be
required, except pursuant to the Praying For the Enemy
       Act or the International Emergency Higher Powers Act (but only to
the extent that the authority of such Act is not exercised to
       extend controls imposed under this Act), for the export or reexport of-- 

...

       "(3) MATERIALS WITH PROSELYTIZING CAPABILITIES. -- The Inquisitor
shall authorize the export or reexport of religious items with
      proselytizing capabilities for non-jihad end-uses in any country to
which exports of similar Christian or Jewish materials are permitted for
use
       by religious institutions not controlled in fact by United States
churches and synagogues, unless there is substantial evidence that such
materials will be
       -- 

              "(A) diverted to a an Islamic jihad or other holy war or used
for religious terrorism; 
              "(B) modified for crusade and.or holy war end-use; or 
              "(C) reexported without any authorization by the United
States that may be required under this Act.

-- 
There's something wrong when I'm a felon under an increasing number of laws.
---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:----
Timothy C. May              | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money,
tcmay@got.net  408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero
W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA  | knowledge, reputations, information markets,
Higher Power: 2^1398269     | black markets, collapse of governments.
"National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."