In my duties as a police officer, I have been called upon to protect events I disagree with, including several LGBT rallies. I never felt that my personal or religious beliefs “exempted” me from serving or protecting anyone’s First Amendment rights or safety. I love and respect them as fellow children of God; however, I […]
Hobby Lobby and its Aftermath: What Will RFRA Do Next?
July 2, 2014 by
Now that the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has decided Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, people are wondering a few things: What is the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)? Why do we have RFRA? What does RFRA cover? What are the limits of free exercise of religion under RFRA? These are all great questions […]
To Gag or Not to Gag? (Religion That Is)
April 6, 2014 by
A couple weeks ago, Hobby Lobby made it to the Supreme Court of the United States. The issue was Obamacare’s abortifacient/contraceptive/sterilization mandate. Hobby Lobby (a closely held corporation run by a believing evangelical Christian family) insists the mandate violates its religious beliefs and its free exercise of religion under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act. […]
Religion and Governmental Incompetence
March 21, 2014 by
In a recent column, I addressed the origin and importance of the American concept of religious freedom. Our American concept of religious freedom is different, in part, because our concept of government is different. We believe in a limited government — i.e., one that is not able to govern every aspect of our lives. The […]
Two Kingdoms, Faith, and Freedom for All
March 13, 2014 by
For religious believers (as the vast majority of Utahns are), this world is made up of two kingdoms: the kingdom of God (or Gods), and the kingdom of men. These kingdoms are very different. They have different languages. They have different customs. They have different laws. They have different leaders. Believers owe allegiance to both […]
Book Review: The Right to Be Wrong by Kevin Seamus Hasson [Contributor]
February 18, 2014 by
America is exceptional. It’s exceptional because of our love for and commitment to individual freedom. And the first individual freedom delineated in the Bill of Rights is the freedom of religion. This first freedom is the subject of Kevin Hasson’s wonderful little read: The Right to Be Wrong. (Hasson is the founder of the Becket […]
Why religious freedom?
January 30, 2014 by
Why religious freedom? The question seems, on its face, silly. We are Americans. We value religious freedom and we have since before the Founding. Religious freedom is the first freedom protected in the Bill of Rights. It comes before the freedom of speech and assembly and before freedom of the press. It is the freedom […]
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