HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania religious leaders are ramping up pressure on the Legislature to approve a statewide smoking ban.

Their aim is to protect all people from secondhand smoke, which is known to cause cancer, heart attacks and respiratory illnesses.

"I'm not asking everyone to stop smoking -- although I wish they would. I'm asking that they not expose people [to their smoke] in public places," said Mary Hafer, president of the Greater Harrisburg chapter of Church Women United.

She was among a handful of religious leaders who held a news conference in the Capitol rotunda yesterday. Some are expected to repeat their pleas today during a hearing before a House-Senate conference committee on anti-smoking legislation.

Both chambers want to restrict smoking but disagree on how far the ban should go. Some want to ban smoking in all workplaces, while others want to create exceptions for such places as taverns, private clubs, casinos and cigar shops.

Clergy who spoke yesterday oppose any exceptions.

"Why would we allow anybody's life to be in jeopardy in this state? ... Why would we want to do that?" asked the Rev. Jess Brown of Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in southwest Philadelphia.

Opponents of the ban say it would infringe on individual freedom and on entrepreneurs' right to make business decisions about what kinds of activities they will allow on their property.

Sandy Strauss, director of public advocacy for the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, rejected those arguments.

"While many smokers will claim that a smoking ban would deny their freedom to engage in an activity that they choose, what about freedom for workers and members of the public to breathe clean and healthy air?" she asked. "What does the concept of freedom really mean when the actions of a few can damage or even destroy the lives of others? We in the faith community cannot remain silent."