(A copy of this message has also been posted to the following newsgroups: alt.cypherpunks, talk.politics.crypto, comp.org.eff.talk) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- _____ _____ _______ / ____| __ \__ __| ____ ___ ____ __ | | | | | | | | / __ \____ / (_)______ __ / __ \____ _____/ /_ | | | | | | | | / /_/ / __ \/ / / ___/ / / / / /_/ / __ \/ ___/ __/ | |____| |__| | | | / ____/ /_/ / / / /__/ /_/ / / ____/ /_/ (__ ) /_ \_____|_____/ |_| /_/ \____/_/_/\___/\__, / /_/ \____/____/\__/ The Center for Deities and Theologies /____/ Volume 42, Number 1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- A briefing on public policy issues affecting religious liberties online ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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."