The Brookings Institution has unveiled a new statement concerning religious liberty titled Religious Expression in American Public Life: A Joint Statement of Current Law. This joint statement was put together by a diverse group of religious and secular leaders. As I mentioned in my post yesterday, Melissa Rogers of Wake Forest University played a key role in crafting this statement. In fact, the joint statement was produced by the Center for Religion and Public Affairs at Wake Forest University School of Divinity. Rogers is scheduled to speak about the statement during a panel session today along with Charles Haynes (First Amendment Center), Colby May (ACLJ) and Marc Stern (American Jewish Congress).
Several Baptists in addition to Rogers served on the Drafting Committee including:
- J. Brent Walker, Executive-Director, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
- K. Hollyn Hollman, General Counsel, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
- Oliver Thomas, Attorney
- Richard Land, President, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention
Other groups represented on the Drafting Committee include the Seventh-Day Adventists, American Jewish Committee, Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Anti-Defamation League, National Council of Churches, Islamic Networks Group, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, and more.
Below are a few snippets:
The drafters of this document often disagree about how the law should address issues regarding the intersection of religion and government. For example, some of us are actively urging the Supreme Court of the United States to reverse certain decisions in this area, while others of us are vigorously opposing such efforts. Nevertheless, we have come together to provide a summary of how the law currently answers some basic questions regarding religious expression and practice in public life. However much we differ about what the law should be, we agree in many cases on what the law is today.
Our description of current law should not be taken as a collective endorsement of all of the activities the law allows. Some of us would take that position; others would not. This document describes what is legally permissible, not necessarily what is desirable.
The joint statement answers 35 different questions such as “May religious groups and people participate in the debate of public issues?,” “May religious beliefs inform public policy?,” “Does the First Amendment place restrictions on the political activities of religious organizations” and “What kinds of activities are prohibited by the ban on religious discrimination as applied to the secular nongovernmental workplace?”
For those interested in what a diverse group of scholars agree that the law says on religious liberty questions, this is an extremely helpful resource. Check it out.
Related posts:
- Melissa Rogers Honored With Abner McCall Religious Liberty Award Congratulations to Melissa Rogers who was awarded the Abner McCall...
- Black Baptist Leaders Release Religious Liberty Statement From Sam Hodges of the Dallas Morning News: Leaders of...
- Texas Baptists Pass Resolution on Religious Liberty and the Faith-Based Initiative Here’s the text of the resolution titled On Religious Liberty...
- Baptists and Religious Liberty Baptists and others who love religious liberty will gather on...
- Richard Land’s Baptist Joint Committee Reunion Check it out: K. Hollyn Hollman, general counsel of the...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Yes. This statement could be very helpful to people as they make decisions during the upcoming elections cycle. Thanks for helping to spread the word.
Your bulleted list…in alphabetical order? Reverse alphabetical order? Ordered how?
That’s good-natured ribbing I’m performing there. Good article.
Richard Land and Brent Walker collaborating on a statement?
Maybe the Aggies and ‘Horns can get together after all.