Opinion of the Justices to the House of Representatives

To the Honorable the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

The undersigned Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court respectfully submit their answers to questions set forth in an order adopted by the House of Representatives on October 17, 1996, and transmitted to the Justices on October 21, 1996. The order indicates that there is pending before the General Court Senate Bill No. 2435, entitled, “An Act restoring religious freedom in the workplace,” a copy of which was transmitted with the order.

The order notes the opinion of the Supreme Judicial Court *1245in Pielech v.…