Religious Freedom

An entire society can benefit from the dedication of a minority. The role that Quakers played in the movement to abolish slavery is one example. A recent Supreme Court decision, involving an Amish community in Minnesota, illustrates another.

The Becket Fund’s Religious Freedom Index for 2021 reports on a national survey of U.S. adults who respond to 21 questions about “a wide spectrum of religious liberty protections under the First Amendment.”

Encouraging legislative lawmaking over judicial lawmaking, as President Dallin H. Oaks did in a recent speech, is a sound prescription. Unfortunately, at present the courts play an outsize role in defining legal guarantees of religious freedom.

Sutherland’s Bill Duncan updates the four religious freedom cases that he previewed at the beginning of the current Supreme Court term. They are a good illustration of the important role of the court: In deciding which cases to take and…

Although it is impossible to tell how the judges will rule based on their questions, a number of the questions seem to indicate a concern that the current law is having the effect of dissuading abortion providers while being legally…

While the role of government and the complexity of our economy have increased, the need to ensure protection of religious freedom has not changed.

Neighbors, policymakers and the courts will all make better judgments – of others around them and of those their decisions affect – with the understanding of differences that comes from personal familiarity.

A recent report from a diverse group of scholars says that “religious norms” in poorer countries lessen the psychological burden of poverty – pointing to religiosity as a significant source of resilience.

“Rather than banishing religious organizations from the public square or overlooking their potential influence, elected officials should create space for faith-based groups to thrive and contribute.”