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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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
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Advice to the younger generation on the benefits of religion
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Is religion good for society?
Insights & Takeaways
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Religious groups called the ‘brightest spot’ in foster care system
Read More: Religious groups called the ‘brightest spot’ in foster care system“Religious organizations are really the brightest spot in what is an otherwise dismal [foster care] system,” says Naomi Schaefer Riley, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
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Be thankful for religious freedom (and the not-so-uniform Pilgrims)
Read More: Be thankful for religious freedom (and the not-so-uniform Pilgrims)Thanksgiving is an appropriate occasion to talk about religious freedom. The Pilgrims’ baby steps toward religious toleration have had surprising but welcome ramifications through the last four centuries.
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Alito: Widespread support for religious freedom is shrinking
Read More: Alito: Widespread support for religious freedom is shrinkingIs religious freedom “fast becoming a disfavored right”? That is the worry expressed by Justice Samuel Alito in a recent speech to a virtual convention of the Federalist Society.
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How the ‘nones’ vote might impact religious freedom
Read More: How the ‘nones’ vote might impact religious freedomA priority for advocates of religious freedom should be to help those with no particular religious belief understand how their rights and liberties are strengthened when religious belief and exercise…
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‘Three Ring Government’ and religious freedom
Read More: ‘Three Ring Government’ and religious freedomPutting aside pedantic quibbles with the lyrics, the key insight is the importance of checks and balances. That important feature of government could become a key to protecting religious freedom…
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SCOTUS may settle important religious freedom questions in foster care case
Read More: SCOTUS may settle important religious freedom questions in foster care caseThe ruling may offer the justices the chance to settle some of these important questions about the prerogatives of state and local government when dealing with religious organizations, the potential…
