Religious Freedom News
The Daily Signal provides coverage of religious freedom issues in the United States and around the world, with reporting on policy, legal challenges, persecution, and the impact on people of faith.
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- Opinion
We Hear You: Bernie Sanders, Religious Freedom, and Fake News
Editor’s note: What could be more appropriate this Fourth of July weekend than to round up some audience comments on basic American freedoms such as freedom of religion, speech, and the press? Happy Independence Day.—Ken McIntyre Dear Daily Signal: There is a disconnect in the statement Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., put on his Senate website after…Ken McIntyre -
- News
Defender of Religious Freedom Sues Nonprofit Tracker GuideStar Over ‘Hate Group’ Labels
A conservative organization dedicated to upholding religious liberty has sued the leading tracker of U.S. nonprofits for publicly listing it as a “hate group.” “It is dangerous to label organizations as hate groups when they’re not, [and] people have used that information to commit acts of violence.”—@MatStaver Liberty Counsel is taking GuideStar to court after…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
Circuit Court Win for Religious Freedom on Gay Marriage
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously on Thursday that a Mississippi law that protects religious liberty and the rights of conscience in light of the redefinition of marriage may go into effect. In the decision, the circuit court overruled a previous judgment from a district court judge who had declared the Mississippi…Ryan T. Anderson -
- Opinion
Blasphemy Conviction for Christian Governor Could Be Sign of Deteriorating Religious Freedom in Indonesia
Jakarta’s Chinese Christian governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, more popularly known as Ahok, was found guilty of blasphemy by a panel of five judges in Indonesia and sentenced to two years in prison. This latest application of blasphemy laws calls into question the commitment to religious freedom in a country often held up as an example…Olivia Enos -
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Trump to Sign Executive Order on Religious Freedom
President Donald Trump will reportedly be celebrating the National Day of Prayer by signing an executive order to boost America’s first freedom. Trump is meeting with religious leaders for a dinner at the White House Wednesday night and is expected to sign the executive order Thursday morning in a Rose Garden event marking the National…Fred Lucas -
- News
Religious Freedom, Infrastructure Among Trump’s Plans for Next 100 Days
After wrapping up his first 100 days in the White House on Saturday, President Donald Trump plans to hit a new set of issues, including religious liberty, tax reform, and school choice, a White House official told The Daily Signal. “We want to have legislation that has a profound impact on religious liberty, one that…Fred Lucas -
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4 Big Questions About the Supreme Court’s New Religious Freedom Case
Missouri’s new governor introduced a fresh dynamic into what was set to be the leading religious freedom case argued before the Supreme Court this year, and the first major case that new Justice Neil Gorsuch will hear. “We have hundreds of outstanding religious organizations all over the state of Missouri,” @EricGreitens says. The Supreme Court…Fred Lucas -
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Gorsuch Credits Liberal Democrats for ‘Very Strict Law’ Defending Religious Freedom
Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, deftly paid respect to liberal Democrats in remarks Tuesday on protecting religious liberty in cases such as the Hobby Lobby decision. “Hobby Lobby came to court and said, ‘We deserve protections too. We’re a small, family-held company … ,’” Gorsuch said of the retail chain in a…Rachel del Guidice -
- News
Conservative Leaders Call on Trump to Protect Religious Freedom
Conservative leaders are calling for President Donald Trump to move forward on an executive order to protect the exercise of religious beliefs by rolling back Obama-era regulations that targeted Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army, a military chaplain, Christian business owners, and others. “[Americans] are about to suffer under Obama-era anti?religious regulations,” a CNP letter says….Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Misleading Report Exaggerates ‘Harmful Effects’ of Religious Freedom on Texas Economy
The Texas Association of Business—the state’s largest business advocacy organization—cites economic studies of dubious quality in projecting a loss of $964 million to $8.5 billion of gross state product if Texas were to strengthen its Religious Freedom Restoration Act in its current legislative session. In reality, the economic impact of changes to this law is…Jamie Bryan Hall -
- News
Little Sisters of the Poor Respond to Draft of Trump Religious Freedom Executive Order
After a draft of a religious freedom executive order from President Donald Trump was leaked to the media, a group of Catholic nuns have once again found themselves in the spotlight. “I am aware of the draft executive order that seems to be circulating as of the last couple of days,” Sister Constance Veit, director of communications for…Kelsey Bolar -
- News
Religious Freedom Advocates Urge Trump to Sign Executive Order
Conservatives and religious groups are calling on President Donald Trump to stand firm on a draft executive order asserting the federal government recognize religious freedom as not only the right to worship but the right to express one’s religion. The draft of the executive order, reportedly called “Establishing a Government-Wide Initiative to Respect Religious Freedom,”…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Mr. President: Don’t Cave to Liberal Fearmongering. Protect Religious Freedom.
Liberals are up in arms over a possible executive order from President Donald Trump protecting religious freedom. A draft copy of the executive order was leaked to LGBT groups and liberal media outlets in an attempt to prevent the president from issuing it. But the president should not cave. He should stand up to the…Ryan T. Anderson -
- Opinion
Religious Freedom in Pakistan Takes 1 Step Forward, 2 Steps Back
The Pakistani government took a positive step forward earlier this month in renaming the National Center for Physics after the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Abdus Salam—a member of the Ahmadi community, a minority sect of Islam. Even though Salam received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, his achievement was largely ignored in Pakistan because of the…Olivia Enos -
- Opinion
Trump on Life, Conscience, and Religious Freedom in His Own Words
As my colleague Ryan T. Anderson and I have argued, it’s time to act to defend innocent human life and make religious freedom great again. President-elect Donald Trump has made encouraging statements regarding these important issues, including: “I am committed to nominating pro-life justices to the U.S. Supreme Court.” (Pro-Life Coalition Letter, SBA-List.org) The Heritage…Melanie Israel -
- Opinion
The Bill of Rights Just Turned 225. Here’s What It Can Still Teach Us About Religious Freedom.
On this day 225 years ago, the states ratified one of the most significant documents in our government. We are reminded today that religious freedom is no new issue in American history. The Bill of Rights, comprised of the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution, enumerates sacred, fundamental rights that Congress may not violate….Abigail Doty -
- Opinion
Make Religious Freedom Great Again
Donald Trump promised that he would make America great again. If he is to make good on that promise, he’ll need to start by robustly restoring our first freedom: the free exercise of religion. Unfortunately, under President Barack Obama’s administration, it came in for attack as never before. Thankfully, many of those attacks can be rectified…Ryan T. Anderson -
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Bring Your Bible to School Day Celebrates Religious Freedom
With prayer banned in public schools and religious freedom under attack, one organization is hosting an event where students can openly engage in religious discussion and bring their Bibles to school. Bring Your Bible to School Day, occurring Thursday and hosted by Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian organization, is a national event where…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
Supreme Court Stands by and Watches as Religious Freedom Is Curtailed
Last week, in a development which is a loss for freedom, pluralism, and tolerance in America, the Supreme Court declined to take up the case of Stormans v. Wiesman. This should not be a difficult case. It involves pharmacy owners (members of the Stormans family) who do not want to dispense certain drugs that can…Travis Weber -
- News
Religious Freedom Bill Creeps Forward in Congress
A bill designed to protect individuals and nonprofit organizations from being discriminated against because of their religious beliefs may soon gain traction in the House of Representatives. After a year of inaction, the bill, called the First Amendment Defense Act, will get a hearing on July 12, The Daily Signal has learned. The First Amendment…Kelsey Bolar