Religious liberty is measured by freedom in practice
As a lawyer who has dedicated his entire career to the cause of religious liberty, the state of religious liberty in America has never been stronger. In my nearly four decades of fighting for religious liberty, I could not have envisioned the victories that have recently occurred. Naturally, I was thrilled to see President Donald Trump’s recent compilation of 250 religious liberty victories for the public.
TL;DR
- Religious liberty is not just the right to believe, but the right to live according to one's faith and conscience in all spheres of life.
- The First Amendment protects religious expression, not just religious belief.
- Government actions, including regulations and policies, can impact religious liberty without explicit restrictive laws.
- Religious freedom encompasses the protection of religious institutions, healthcare providers with moral objections, and faith-based organizations' participation in programs.
- Free speech and religious freedom are inseparable, as faith inherently involves expression.
- Combating antisemitism is part of the broader religious liberty conversation, as true freedom protects beliefs we disagree with.
- Religious liberty is a limitation on government power, not a partisan possession or a favor.
- The ultimate measure of religious liberty is whether ordinary people can live their lives according to their convictions without government punishment or targeting.