Religious Freedom
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Are religious-freedom conflicts linked to lack of religious affiliation?
The report not only describes national affiliation trends, but also includes county-level data on religious affiliation. This allows for a high-level look at possible correlation between government limitations on religious practice and the percentage of a state’s population that is…
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Studies show religion can help protect against drug abuse risk
The protection offered by religion and religious practice against drug abuse and addiction is so strong that Grim argues “the decline in religious affiliation presents a growing national health concern.”
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Small shifts in religious affiliation and law may improve climate for religious freedom
As significant legal and demographic changes have spread across the country in the past few decades, conflicts involving religious freedom have also increased. Recent developments may signal a shift in some of these areas – providing modest hope that religious…
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Religious freedom at the Supreme Court: Where we are, and what’s next
Over the past few years – in the face of lamentable congressional impotence and inaction on most difficult policy issues – the U.S. Supreme Court has actively shaped the legal climate for religious freedom.
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How religious practice is linked to healthy habits
There are significant indications that religious practice helps people to live better lives and that, in turn, benefits society more generally.
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Supreme Court says donors’ right of association outweighs need for disclosure
The court’s application of constitutional principles ensures a wide range of groups can pursue their work and a wide range of citizens can support groups who represent their beliefs without fear of reprisals.
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Congress’ abdication of lawmaking may affect religious freedom
A recent decision by the U.S. Department of Education about how to interpret the law prohibiting sex discrimination in education has some important implications for the separation of powers, religious freedom, and the need for moderating influences on potentially contentious…
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Supreme Court’s Fulton decision denies both extremes, shows a better way
A better way is both possible and doable. We just have to be willing to be the kind of people who can accomplish it.
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Supreme Court rules in favor of Catholic foster agency but leaves big questions for later
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a significant religious freedom decision this morning, with all the justices concluding that the city of Philadelphia violated the constitutional rights of a religious foster care agency, Catholic Social Services, when it “stopped referring children…
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Religious freedom law is not a ‘get out of jail card’: It protects rights while still limiting harmful practices
Those who argue for robust legal protections for religious exercise sometimes struggle to answer an objection: What about when religious groups or their members do something clearly wrong?