Policy
Religious Freedom
Respecting human dignity requires that we respect the core elements of how people and groups identify themselves, including their religious beliefs. Religious belief has been a powerful motivation for protecting the rights and liberties of others; it kindled movements to abolish slavery and protect Americans’ civil rights. For millions of Americans, religion is the source of the values required in a free society, such as understanding, respect and sacrifice for others. Additionally, religious institutions provide irreplaceable care for the most vulnerable people in society.
For all of these reasons, the right to exercise religion is a fundamental human right. The law should respect the independence of religious institutions, defend the right of conscience, and protect the right of individuals to act on their religious beliefs, while establishing reasonable protections for public health and safety in a spirit of fairness for all.
Published Research
Conversations
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Government needs to stay in its lane
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It's a bad idea for government to violate religious liberty
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Religious liberty is good for everyone – not just religious people
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Religion doesn't need a permission slip from the government
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Religious freedom and conscience in higher education
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Religious freedom, courts, and federalism in Utah | Bill Duncan
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The benefit of religious contributions to society
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How facts help provide a more positive perception of religion
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How to persuade religious skeptics without preaching
Insights & Takeaways
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Supreme Court rules in favor of Catholic foster agency but leaves big questions for later
Read More: Supreme Court rules in favor of Catholic foster agency but leaves big questions for laterThe 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…
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Religious freedom law is not a ‘get out of jail card’: It protects rights while still limiting harmful practices
Read More: Religious freedom law is not a ‘get out of jail card’: It protects rights while still limiting harmful practicesThose 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?
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Faithful, long marriages linked to religiosity (and large, low-budget weddings)
Read More: Faithful, long marriages linked to religiosity (and large, low-budget weddings)High-profile divorces can invite introspection about what makes marriage last. Those who seem to have everything going for them but still split can make others feel that marriage success is…
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San Francisco archbishop’s abortion letter rooted in this ancient tradition
Read More: San Francisco archbishop’s abortion letter rooted in this ancient traditionEven if we do not agree with a particular religious claim made on a political leader, the invocation of a religious accountability is an important reminder of the great achievement…
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Death and religion: A surprising example of practical policy solutions
Read More: Death and religion: A surprising example of practical policy solutionsThe death penalty and religious freedom are both issues that regularly drive disagreement and cause controversy. Unexpectedly, when mixed together, they are also leading to some consensus solutions – showing…
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The religious ideas that helped foment the American Revolution
Read More: The religious ideas that helped foment the American RevolutionBy design, the new U.S. government was not “religious” in the sense of requiring allegiance to any particular faith. It was, rather, dedicated to a comprehensive protection of the religious…
