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.
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
Religious liberty is essential to our freedoms
Religious institutions are essential to freedom
Government needs to stay in its lane
It's a bad idea for government to violate religious liberty
Religious liberty is good for everyone – not just religious people
Religion doesn't need a permission slip from the government
Religious freedom and conscience in higher education
Religious freedom, courts, and federalism in Utah | Bill Duncan
The benefit of religious contributions to society
Religious liberty is essential to our freedoms
Religious institutions are essential to freedom
Government needs to stay in its lane
Insights & Takeaways
InsightsThe principles of prayer in public meetings
The 2026 National Federalism Initiative’s Summit of the States was held in Salt Lake last week. The conference stressed the importance of “structure over politics,” the reality that the level at which decisions are made is as important, or sometimes more important,...
InsightsMassachusetts case raises concerns about government cutting parents out of children’s decisions
The 2026 National Federalism Initiative’s Summit of the States was held in Salt Lake last week. The conference stressed the importance of “structure over politics,” the reality that the level at which decisions are made is as important, or sometimes more important,...
InsightsKeeping the government in its lane to protect religious freedom
The 2026 National Federalism Initiative’s Summit of the States was held in Salt Lake last week. The conference stressed the importance of “structure over politics,” the reality that the level at which decisions are made is as important, or sometimes more important,...
InsightsUtah religious freedom ranking points to better protection for conscience
The 2026 National Federalism Initiative’s Summit of the States was held in Salt Lake last week. The conference stressed the importance of “structure over politics,” the reality that the level at which decisions are made is as important, or sometimes more important,...
InsightsWhy parental authority and religious freedom go hand in hand
The U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to hear a case brought by an Orthodox Jewish man who was harassed by the city when he sought to hold a religious gathering in his home. Disputes over property use are common scenarios for religious freedom issues to arise. The...
ReportReligious Freedom and Parental Authority
In 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an important religious freedom decision, Mahmoud v. Taylor, concluding that a Maryland school district could not prevent parents from opting their children out of classroom discussions about gender and sexuality. In the past...
InsightsThe principles of prayer in public meetings
The 2026 National Federalism Initiative’s Summit of the States was held in Salt Lake last week. The conference stressed the importance of “structure over politics,” the reality that the level at which decisions are made is as important, or sometimes more important,...
InsightsMassachusetts case raises concerns about government cutting parents out of children’s decisions
The 2026 National Federalism Initiative’s Summit of the States was held in Salt Lake last week. The conference stressed the importance of “structure over politics,” the reality that the level at which decisions are made is as important, or sometimes more important,...
InsightsKeeping the government in its lane to protect religious freedom
The 2026 National Federalism Initiative’s Summit of the States was held in Salt Lake last week. The conference stressed the importance of “structure over politics,” the reality that the level at which decisions are made is as important, or sometimes more important,...