A new report by the First Liberty Institute has shed light on how different U.S. states are performing in terms of protecting religious liberty. The “Religious Liberty in the States” report, now in its third year, evaluates states based on their adoption of 39 legal provisions that aim to uphold religious freedoms.
The evaluation involves an index that incorporates 16 “safeguards” to produce an overall score for each state. This year’s additions to the safeguards include provisions related to absentee voting, healthcare, insurance mandates, and protections for religious ceremonial life, along with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Illinois retains its position as the top state for religious liberty, although its score has slipped from 85% to 80%. The drop is attributed to the state’s failure to implement new measures to prevent the closure of houses of worship. Despite this, Illinois remains a leader in religious freedom protection. Florida, Montana, Arkansas, and Mississippi are also recognized for their strong religious liberty safeguards, rounding out the top five states.
Kelly Shackelford, President and CEO of First Liberty Institute, highlighted the critical role of state-level action in preserving religious freedoms. “Now is the time for every state to do all they can to protect our first freedom,” Shackelford stated. “The Religious Liberty in the States index empowers citizens with the knowledge they need to push to ensure their religious liberties are more fully protected.”
On the flip side, California and Alaska are listed among the states with the weakest protections for religious liberty, ranking 48th and 49th respectively. West Virginia, which scored the lowest with 25%, has shown some improvement from the previous year’s 14% due to the adoption of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Signed into law by Governor Jim Justice in March, this act restricts the state’s ability to burden religious practices unless it serves a compelling governmental interest.
The report underscores a significant disparity in how states address religious freedoms. Despite the improvements in some areas, many states still lag behind in providing robust protections. Only 12 states achieved a score of 50% or higher in the index, indicating that the majority of states have not fully implemented the safeguards necessary to protect religious liberties.
“Many states are making significant strides, and the data clearly reflects that progress. However, there is still considerable room for improvement,” the report notes. It emphasizes that a greater commitment to enhancing religious liberty protections is essential across the country.
The First Liberty Institute’s findings are expected to prompt discussions and actions aimed at bolstering religious freedoms at the state level, ensuring that all Americans can fully exercise their First Amendment rights.
Source :- https://www.foxnews.com
