House passes bill on religious freedom

THE House of Representatives gave its final nod to House Bill (HB) 6492 or the proposed “Magna Carta on Religious Freedom Act.”

HB 6492 was passed on third and final reading on Monday, with over 250 lawmakers voting in the affirmative and one in the negative. There were three abstentions.

The bill protects the right to choose a religion or religious group; to exercise or express religious belief, practices, acts or activities; and to propagate religious beliefs and disseminate religious publications, among others.

Under Section 6 of the bill, the right to freedom of religion “can be denied, regulated, burdened or curtailed only if it can be demonstrated that the free exercise of religious freedom or conscience results in violence and it is necessary to protect public safety, public order, health, property and good morals.”

The measure also bans a person from compeling another “by means of force, threat, intimidation or undue influence, to choose or not to choose a particular religious group, or to subscribe to a particular religious belief.

It shall also be unlawful for a person to threaten someone with harm or exert undue influence or pressure in order to prevent a person from changing his religion or belief.