Published Sept. 29, 1998 -- Bee Capitol Bureau

Condemning the bill as a threat to law enforcement, Gov. Pete Wilson has vetoed legislation meant to protect individuals' free exercise of religion unless state or local government has a "compelling" reason to interfere.

Supporters had cited a variety of practical concerns the bill would protect -- from Sabbath observances on Saturday that conflict with school assignments to worship or religious attire on campus and in the workplace.

But Wilson, in a veto message late Monday, said the Religious Freedom Protection Act would lead to lawsuits "by prisoners who claim that alcohol, a specific diet, sacred knives, conjugal visits and satanic bibles are all part of their free exercise of religion."

"(This bill) would weaken prison regulations and law enforcement with costly lawsuits seeking to subordinate our criminal laws to criminal defendants' supposed religious beliefs," Wilson said.