Religious Freedom

We remember the days when, “In God We Trust” were invincible words on a coin, reminiscent of the foundations of the United States in moral law under a providential Hand.  Today, our essential freedom to believe, to not believe, to worship, to change our mode of worship, to act according to conscience in public and private settings, has been severely compromised, and attempts are rampant to squeeze religion out of the public square, locally, nationally, and globally. This site is about clarifying, for the lay, for the interested, for the advocate, and for the activist, the import, the doctrine, the stakes, and the implications of standing to defend and protect religious freedom.

Mormon familyReligious freedom is a significant Constitutional right. It is, at the very least, a “first freedom.” Religious liberty is protected by a vast array of constitutions, treaties, and other international human rights instruments (See, e.g., U.S. Constitution, amendment 1; Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted and proclaimed by U.N. General Assembly Resolution 217A (III) (1948), art. 18; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted and opened for signature by U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2200A (XXI) (1966), art. 18.).

For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Lattter-day Saints (nicknamed “Mormons”), it is also a core doctrine. In the words of a late apostle of the Lord, Bruce McConkie: remarkable statement from Elder Bruce R. McConkie:

Freedom of worship is one of the basic doctrines of the gospel. Indeed, in one manner of speaking it is the most basic of all doctrines, even taking precedence over the nature and kind of being that God is, or the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God, or the vesting of priesthood and keys and saving power in the one true church. By this we mean that if there were no freedom of worship, there would be no God, no redemption, and no salvation in the kingdom of God (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith: Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1985, 655).

We hope you’ll stay, contribute to the conversation as a guest writer, share current events and victories in your geographical area with us, and bring us your Op-Ed posts as you advocate for religious freedom. The issue of religious freedom is tied to many others, including the deconstruction of marriage and promotion of same-sex marriage. Decisions constructing protected groups of one kind–consensual couples of same-sex in marriage, for example–impacts every other pre-existent freedom protected by our Constitution. Here we will look at all of these tangential and related moral and legal issues.  We will advocate for our own personal example of civility in the discussion and in our approach, while tenaciously holding to the principles of religious freedom, without which, truth cannot flourish, and nations cannot live severely compromised lives.

We’ll talk about religious freedom in the public square and in the school-rooms and in the courts, at the UN, at home, and across the globe–issues touching Western Europe, Kazakhstan, Romania, as well as those happening in New York City.

Thanks for visiting. We look forward to hearing from you.

Current Issues in the United States:

  • Religion in the Public Square
  • Freedom of Religion in Schools
    • Boy Suspended for Stating Religious Beliefs on Homosexuality
    • Sex Ed Curriculum
  • Definition of Marriage
  • Contraceptive Drugs in Catholic Hospitals and Universities
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