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 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
How facts help provide a more positive perception of religion
Religious institutions are essential to freedom
Government needs to stay in its lane
It's a bad idea for government to violate religious liberty
Insights & Takeaways
ReportReligious Contributions to Education: Social Benefits of Religion, Volume 3
This publication is the third in a series and focuses on the contributions of people of faith and religious organizations to education in the United States. Prior reports described religious contributions to social services and to the freedoms we enjoy as...
InsightsNew research shows why religiously motivated colleges and universities offer far-reaching benefits
Sutherland Institute has published a report on the participation of churches and other religious organizations in primary, secondary, and higher education, the third in a series on the societal contributions of religious organizations and people of faith. Religious...
TakeawaysLegislative wrap-up: Five key victories for Utahns
Sutherland research informed key modifications to increase election security in Utah. The App Store Accountability Act empowers parents to have more control over what content their children consume on their phones. Utah took a step in the right direction on...
LegalMahmoud v. Taylor
The laws of nearly every State (including Maryland) require schools to accommodate parents’ right to determine how their children are taught about sensitive topics. These laws typically require notice of the teaching, provision for parents to review the...
Impact AnalysisThe hidden directives that issue from D.C.
Federal bureaucratic agencies issue enormous amounts of “guidance” that is extremely influential, even though it is not legally binding and sometimes at odds with the actual law. The Utah Legislature has recently passed legislation to make the guidance sent to...
Impact AnalysisA deeper look at Utah voters’ support for requiring app stores to verify age
Utah’s Legislature is considering regulations on app stores to ensure parents are notified of app downloads by their children and that the age ratings of apps are accurate. A survey of Utah voters shows strong support for regulations on app stores across all...
InsightsColorado’s troubling trend on religious liberty
In the last decade, Colorado has been the source of a disproportionate number of religious freedom cases because of state policies that do not accommodate religious practices of its citizens. The U.S. Supreme Court has twice struck down Colorado actions that...
ReportTalking about Religion in a Secular Age: How Religious “Nones” Perceive the Value of Religion
This report examines an experimental survey that enlightens our understanding of religiously unaffiliated Americans (“nones”) and their perceptions of religion’s societal role. Commissioned by Sutherland Institute and conducted by Heart+Mind Strategies from June 27...
InsightsWho’s accountable when religious freedom is violated?
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday in a case where a former prisoner, forcibly shaved in violation of his religious vows, seeks financial compensation from the officials who violated his rights. While everyone seems to agree the official’s actions...