Indiana Religious Freedom Law News: Governor Signs Measure, Critics Claim Law Discriminates Against Same-Sex Couples

Indiana Governor Mike Pence on Thursday signed into law a measure that would promote religious freedom and protect business owners who deny performing services to same-sex couples.

"The Constitution of the United States and the Indiana Constitution both provide strong recognition of the freedom of religion. But today, many people of faith feel their religious liberty is under attack by government action," Pence said in a statement after signing the bill.

Pence previously said he will sign the measure the moment it is given to his office.

The measure, passed by Indiana's State House on Monday with 63 to 31 votes, posts the question of whether the religious rights of business owners can extend to their for-profit firms, reflecting the national debate on the line dividing religious freedom and discrimination against the gay community. For instance, the Washington Post wrote, the bill would protect a wedding photographer who would deny his services to a wedding involving a same-sex couple.

Indiana's bill on religious freedom has been patterned after a two-decade-old federal law titled the "Religious Freedom and Restoration Act," which played a major role in the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision last year. The court said that closely held firms with religious objections are not required to follow with healthcare requirements that cover contraceptives like Plan B.

Meanwhile, the bill's state Senate counterpart would disallow the government from "substantially burdening" a person's exercise of religion unless it can prove that it has a "compelling interest" and will do so in the "least restrictive means," the Washington Post said.

Opponents of the proposed law fear that it will promote discrimination against the LGBT community, especially now that same-sex marriage is becoming legal across the country. A federal court ruling quashed prohibitions on same-sex union in Indiana and other states back in September.

Supporters of the bill, however, maintain that it promotes religious freedom.

On Monday, legislators on both sides of the issue reportedly used the Bible in justifying their positions.

Republican Rep. Bruce Borders said he believes that the Bible's command to "do all things as unto the Lord" means religious believers need to be protected in their workplaces, not just in their church. He cited an anesthesiologist who denied rendering his services to a woman who is about to have an abortion.

Democratic Rep. Ed DeLaney, on the other hand, said Jesus served all people. "My prophet had dinner with hookers," he said. "Was he blessing them? I hope so."