In Cedar Rapids, Jindal decries 'assault on religious freedom'

  CEDAR RAPIDS — During a stop in Iowa on Friday, Louisiana Gov. and possible GOP presidential candidate Bobby Jindal said he supports an effort in his state to strengthen religious liberty laws just as other states have dialed back laws with potential for discrimination against gays and lesbians.

State Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Bossier City, is drafting a bill to enhance Louisiana's 2010 Religious Freedom Restoration Act to prevent the government from penalizing a business for acting based on religious beliefs, according to a Times-Picayune report this week.

The bill would allow businesses to deny service to gays and lesbians based on conflicts with religious beliefs, similar to laws that drew blowback in Indiana and Arkansas before those states drafted new language to ease concerns.

'We are always happy to take steps to further strength religious liberty in Louisiana and across the country,' Jindal told reporters after a Good Friday Prayer Breakfast at the DoubleTree in Cedar Rapids.

'He obviously hasn't drafted specific legislation, but I know he is talking about it and thinking about different concepts. I'm always happy to support stronger protections for religious liberty in Louisiana across the country.'

Jindal, a Christian conservative who supports marriage defined as between a man and a woman, said he hasn't decided whether to run for president in 2016, although he has started to build an Iowa staff. He's considered a long-shot, ranking behind 10 other potential GOP candidates with 1.5 percent support, according to Real Clear Politics.

The governor served as second billing for his friend and supporter Willie Robertson, a reality star of A&E's Duck Dynasty, at the 13th annual prayer breakfast. It drew about 800 people, largely from church groups around the state.

An aide said it was Jindal's only stop in Iowa this trip.

Robertson, who's father and co-star Phil Robertson has garnered rebuke for comments considered homophobic, said he planned to avoid controversial statements. He stuck to humorous anecdotes from the show, religion and a few plugs for his 'friend' Jindal.

'I am not going to yell. I am not going to scream, Hopefully, I won't offend groups of people today, ' Robertson said. 'However if you are interested in a speaker like that there's another Robertson family member you can get to come up. Oh Phil, he makes my life interesting.'

Jindal focused most of his 25 minute speech on his multiyear journey to becoming a born-again Christian. There was a dose of politics, too, sharing his views on the backlash to Indiana and Arkansas.

'When you see what is happening in Indiana and you see what is been happening in Arkansas, make no mistake about it, there's an assault on religious liberty in the United States of America,' he said.

He blamed 'the left' and 'the media' for confusing the issues and distracting the public, and suggested there's a double standard when it comes to protecting Christian beliefs compared to religious minorities in America.

'Christians should not have to choose between operating their businesses and living according to our faith,' he said. 'The government is coming and telling you are being forced to participate in religious ceremonies, in marriage ceremonies that contradict your deeply held, your sincerely held religious beliefs.'

Indiana has dialed back the law after public pressure, including threats by businesses to boycott the state.

Later speaking to reporters, Jindal said he was concerned that Indiana removed the religious protection, and called businesses critical of Indiana hypocritical.

'I do think it is hypocrisy,' he said. 'You have many of these businesses making complaints about the states that are also making money in countries where homosexuality and Christianity are illegal. You don't here them complaining about those countries.'