Evidently, a bill has been introduced in the NY state legislature to make a crime of "vilifying" or making fun of religion, "religious groups", or "the diety [sic]" "in a public place."
Here is the bill:
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
2167
1999-2000 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
February 4, 1999
Introduced by Sen. MALTESE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to creating the crime of ridicule of religious beliefs or practices
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding two new sections 245.20 and 245.21 to read as follows:
S 245.20 RIDICULE OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OR PRACTICES; DEFINITIONS OF TERMS.
THE FOLLOWING DEFINITIONS ARE APPLICABLE TO SECTION 245.21:
1. "Deity" includes any appellation, symbol or figure of any particular form of religious worship, belief, denomination, sect or class of people professing a particular and well-defined form of religious belief and practices, which by recognized standards of such denomination, sect or class of people indicates the deity or is reasonably referable alone to such deity.
2. "Public place" shall have the same meaning as such term is defined in subdivision one of section 240.00 of this chapter. S 245.21 ridicule of religious beliefs or practices.
A person is guilty of ridicule of religious beliefs or practices when in a public place, he:
1. Holds up the deity or the religious beliefs, practices, symbols, figures or objects of any religious denomination, sect or class of people, to ridicule, hatred, mockery, contempt or obloquy; or
2. Presents, portrays or depicts the religious beliefs, practices, symbols, figures or objects of any religious denomination in an obscene, lewd, profane or lascivious manner. Ridicule of religious beliefs or practices is a class B misdemeanor.
S 2. This act shall take effect on the first day of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
The law is evidently a response to the movie "Life of Brian" by Monty Python. Here is a "justification" I've seen:
Since Monty Python's "Life of Brian" was boycotted for its ridicule of all religions ..., religious ridicule has been a major issue among the clergy. The movie was seen by religious leaders as a cruel and blasphemous mockery of religion...
This legislation is religiously neutral while focusing on the need for protection against attacks on religion
Since the Council for Secular Humanism and other humanist/freethought groups are based in New York State, it is important. Imagine going to jail for showing "Life of Brian!"
The law seemingly would effectively outlaw the public reading or professing of much of the bible in particular its treatment of non- believers. It would definitely outlaw MUCH of what Pat Robertson says about secular humanists on his website or TV show. I wonder if it would be applied fairly?
