William C. Duncan
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Massachusetts case highlights religion’s historical role in higher education
College students and college graduates in America today have religion to thank in no small part for the higher education that is setting them up (or has already set them up) for financial and life success and happiness.
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Foster care bill may start conversation about protection of vulnerable children
Although the upcoming Supreme Court decision on religious agencies and foster care will be important, it is heartening to see members of Congress weighing in to highlight the need for “all hands on deck” in helping children in foster care,…
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Supreme Court’s confirmation of right to share beliefs on campus is a victory for all
Without this ruling, there is a chance that a university could hamper a student’s rights in the hope that they will just accept the limitation without protest, only to quickly give in and avoid liability by changing its policy in…
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Utah enacts forward-thinking religious protections in 2021 session
This session, the Utah Legislature enacted two pieces of legislation with important implications for religious freedom.
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The conflicts and controversies behind the Equality Act
The basic aim of the Equality Act would be to add two new categories – sexual orientation and gender identity – to the protections of these earlier laws. Isn’t this already the law, though? The answer is … sort of.
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Sutherland Institute supports SB 244 – Student Religious Accommodations Amendments
We believe this is an ideal approach to implementing these important measures as it would do so without unnecessarily dictating specifics to the Board of Higher Education or the state’s institutions of higher education.
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Conscientious objector cases show how religious freedom is connected to other rights
Whether protecting deeply held moral beliefs about animal rights, healthcare, abortion or military service, the right to conscientious objection is an important example of how the efforts of people of faith and religious organizations to secure their ability to exercise…
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Sutherland Institute encourages Utah legislators to pass SB 195 – Emergency Response Amendments
The following statement was delivered to all members of the Utah Senate on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. 2SB 195 was passed unanimously in the Senate after being amended during floor debate on Wednesday, Feb. 24.
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Why we should review Utah’s laws to minimize religious freedom conflicts
Like occupational licensing regulations, there are legal rules that create burdens on people of faith and religious groups, even though doing so is not the intent of the provision.
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Supreme Court says religious freedom is essential even on death row
While some view religious freedom as divisive, a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling regarding the execution of an Alabama death row inmate illustrates how religious freedom can and does bring together in unity individuals from across political and ideological spectrums.