A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is advancing legislation to establish civil penalties for individuals who disrupt religious services, a move proponents say is necessary to protect the right to worship freely.
Reps. Brad Knott, R-N.C., and Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., are co-sponsoring a bill that would make it a federal offense to knowingly disrupt or impede people attending a religious service. The legislation defines such disruptions as occurring within 100 feet of any entrance to a house of worship during the hour before and the hour after a scheduled service.
Violators would face a $2,500 civil fine for a first offense, increasing to $5,000 for a second offense and $10,000 for a third. The bill includes exceptions for demonstrations with a federal, state, or local government permit. It also aims to classify disruptions based on volume, duration, and impact, rather than the content of the speech, to ensure First Amendment protections are maintained.
"Today, many Americans are unable to worship without fear of harassment, assault, or other forms of intimidation," Knott stated. "The right to worship freely is foundational to our nation and was one of the motivations for its founding. No American should ever feel that their choice is between worshiping in fear and not worshiping at all."
Suozzi echoed these sentiments, affirming his support for peaceful protest while emphasizing that "attendees of religious services should not be harassed, threatened, intimidated, or targeted for practicing their faith."
This legislative effort follows several incidents and a growing concern over protests targeting religious sites. Earlier this year, at least four states reportedly enacted laws banning the disruption of religious services. One notable incident involved demonstrators interrupting a service at a church where a federal immigration official reportedly served as pastor, leading to the St. Paul city attorney's decision not to prosecute the protesters, citing their actions as a "peaceful protest."
The proposed House bill seeks to provide a federal framework to address such disruptions and ensure that the right to religious observance is protected.