** Due to inclement weather, the event has been postponed. A new date is forthcoming. Overview: Religious freedom for everyone lies at the core of America’s founding and its enduring strength. No other nation has recognized religious freedom as an “inalienable” right given by God, both establishing it constitutionally in law and respecting it broadly in culture. But the free …
RFI Security Toolkit for Religious Institutions
Title: RFI Security Toolkit for Religious Institutions Author: Nathaniel Hurd, Nathan Berkeley, Katie Davern, and John Wyman About: The RFI Security Toolkit for Religious Institutions provides a summary of actions religious institutions can take to improve the security of their facilities and the safety of those who gather or work there. Increasing crime rates, targeting of these types of institutions, …
Religious Freedom Day 2023 – Jefferson’s Virginia Statutes for Religious Freedom
RFI President Eric Patterson wrote an article published in Providence this week discussing the importance of Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statutes of Religious Freedom, the passage of which is marked each year in the United States by Religious Freedom Day. Patterson argues that the Statutes “lay out a compelling vision of what religious freedom looks like” and then quotes them directly: …
Ringing in 2023 with Hope
RFI Executive Vice President Eric Patterson authored a piece for Providence this week titled, “Ringing in 2023 With Hope.” Patterson reflects on the past year and looks to the year ahead in light of Lord Tennyson’s 1850 poem, “In Memoriam,” or better known as “Ring Out Wild Bells,” writing: As the Sun sets on 2022 and rises on ’23, what are …
RFI’s Ismail Royer Speaks at Rally on 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis
On December 5, 2022, Ismail Royer, Director of RFI’s Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team, spoke at a rally held by Alliance Defending Freedom in support of the plaintiff, Lorie Smith, in the Supreme Court case 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis. The event took place in front of the Court during oral arguments for the case. Royer’s action team joined an amicus brief in …
Supreme Court Must Reject Government Attempts to Compel Speech
Ismail Royer, Director of RFI’s Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team, and Howie Slugh, General Counsel of the Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty, co-authored an op-ed published today in the Washington Examiner. They address a case currently under consideration before the U.S. Supreme Court, 303 Creative v. Elenis. Oral arguments are scheduled for December 5th. The case concerns Lorie Smith, …
Stop the “No Plan” Plan: Start a New Political Process
Afghanistan: The Next Chapter Cornerstone Forum Series More than one year after the Taliban’s nearly unimpeded takeover of Afghanistan, religious freedom and associated rights in the country are spiraling towards an all-time low. The modest gains in these freedoms made over the past two decades risk complete erasure. The withdrawal of NATO forces and subsequent rapid fall of the previous …
Assessing the Taliban’s ‘Doublespeak’ and Women’s Rights in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: The Next Chapter Cornerstone Forum Series More than one year after the Taliban’s nearly unimpeded takeover of Afghanistan, religious freedom and associated rights in the country are spiraling towards an all-time low. The modest gains in these freedoms made over the past two decades risk complete erasure. The withdrawal of NATO forces and subsequent rapid fall of the previous …
RFI Crisis Toolkit for Religious Institutions: Community Relationships
Title: RFI Crisis Toolkit for Religious Institutions: Community Relationships Author: Nathaniel Hurd, Nathan Berkeley, Katie Davern, and Matthew Hawkins About: The RFI Crisis Toolkit for Religious Institutions offers practical guidance to help institutions prepare for, mitigate, and respond to crises while remaining faithful to their core convictions, identity, and mission. The Toolkit features three modules: Institutional Governance, Communications, and Community Relationships. Together they …
A Call for Political Re-Engagement in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: The Next Chapter Cornerstone Forum Series More than one year after the Taliban’s nearly unimpeded takeover of Afghanistan, religious freedom and associated rights in the country are spiraling towards an all-time low. The modest gains in these freedoms made over the past two decades risk complete erasure. The withdrawal of NATO forces and subsequent rapid fall of the previous …
Afghanistan Under the Taliban’s Hybrid Extremism and the Difficult Path Toward Peace and Statebuilding
Afghanistan: The Next Chapter Cornerstone Forum Series More than one year after the Taliban’s nearly unimpeded takeover of Afghanistan, religious freedom and associated rights in the country are spiraling towards an all-time low. The modest gains in these freedoms made over the past two decades risk complete erasure. The withdrawal of NATO forces and subsequent rapid fall of the previous …
Is Same-Sex Marriage a Religious Freedom?
By Nathan Berkeley An op-ed recently appeared in the The New York Times titled, “Same-Sex Marriage Is a Religious Freedom.” In it, the author advances an argument that twists freedom of religion into a license for culturally ascendant Americans to demand affirmation for their moral views and ways of life. The author, Steven Paulikas, is an Episcopal priest writing about …
Recent Supreme Court Rulings Have Not Undermined the ‘Separation of Church and State’
This article was originally published as part of a report in CQ Researcher titled, “Church and State: Is Jefferson’s Wall of Separation Eroding?“ The First Amendment begins by saying: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …” Thomas Jefferson, in his letter to the Danbury Baptists, interpreted these words as “building a wall of separation …
If the U.S. supports the idea of an inclusive government in Afghanistan, then it needs to have an inclusive engagement with all Afghan factions
Afghanistan: The Next Chapter Cornerstone Forum Series More than one year after the Taliban’s nearly unimpeded takeover of Afghanistan, religious freedom and associated rights in the country are spiraling towards an all-time low. The modest gains in these freedoms made over the past two decades risk complete erasure. The withdrawal of NATO forces and subsequent rapid fall of the previous …
RFI Senior Fellow Speaks at Notre Dame Law School Religious Liberty Event
Jennie Bradley Lichter, RFI’s Senior Legal Fellow and Deputy General Counsel at the Catholic University of America, recently joined a panel discussion at an event hosted by Notre Dame Law School’s Religious Liberty Initiative titled, “Careers in Religious Liberty.” Lichter gave advice on how to enter the religious liberty space, stressing the importance of first learning the craft of lawyering, …
Implications of Tunisia’s New Constitution on Religious Freedom, Associated Rights & Governance
Cornerstone Series: Implications of Tunisia’s new constitution on religious freedom and associated rights, governance, and national and regional stability This Cornerstone Series invites experts, advocates, and analysts to expound on the implications of Tunisia’s new constitution for citizens as well as the stability and security of the country and the region. The July 25 constitutional referendum passed with more than 92% of …
RFI’s Paul Marshall Discusses Religious Persecution on Catholic Radio
Paul Marshall, Director of RFI’s South and Southeast Asia Action Team, was recently interviewed by Msgr. Kevin Sullivan on JustLove, the weekly radio program of Catholic Charities, to discuss the worldwide state of religious freedom. He addressed religiously motivated violence across the globe, especially against Christians. When asked about the state of religious freedom across the world, Marshall said, “Religious …
New RFI Research Assistant Fights for Religious Liberty in Kansas
RFI is pleased to announce Vincent Schiffiano as a new Research Assistant for RFI’s North America Action Team. Schiffiano—who is currently pursuing an M.A. in Human Rights at The Catholic University of America’s Institute for Human Ecology and graduated from Benedictine College in May 2022 with degrees in Philosophy and Political Science—already has experience fighting for religious freedom “on the …
Yeshiva University’s Battle for Religious Freedom
At the end of August, a Jewish university was compelled to ask the Supreme Court of the United States for emergency relief in order to protect its freedom to follow its faith. A New York trial level court ordered Yeshiva University, a flagship institution of Orthodox Judaism, to recognize an LGBT student group in a formal way. That court and …
On Financial Governance and Freedom of Faith in Pakistan
Charles Ramsey, Senior Fellow for RFI’s South and Southeast Asia and Middle East Action Teams, wrote a piece published on the LSE Religion and Global Society blog this week called, “On Financial Governance and Freedom of Faith in Pakistan.” Through the lens of covenantal pluralism – a philosophy that envisions a paradigm of citizenship characterised by equal rights and responsibilities …
RFI Crisis Toolkit for Religious Institutions: Institutional Governance
Senior Fellow Dr. Charles Ramsey traveled to Afghanistan from May 8-19, 2022 to conduct field research in collaboration with the Religious Freedom Institute to ascertain the situation on the ground, understand actors within the regime, and identify those willing to support policies that protect the rights and dignity of all citizens. Through his research, he engaged with current and former government officials, scholars, university faculty, diplomats, and others to assess the political, religious, and social conditions affecting governance and security in Afghanistan.
RFI Launches New Film Series: “Religious Freedom Testimonials”
Far too many Americans today think religious faith should be privatized, lived out only at home, or in places of worship. RFI’s new film series, Religious Freedom Testimonials, highlights an entirely different vision. The series will showcase Americans from different religious traditions and walks of life witnessing to how they exercise their faith in all areas of their life, and why religious freedom is essential. The …
Islam in the Constitutions of Modern Arab States: the Case of Tunisia
Cornerstone Series: Implications of Tunisia’s new constitution on religious freedom and associated rights, governance, and national and regional stability This Cornerstone Series invites experts, advocates, and analysts to expound on the implications of Tunisia’s new constitution for citizens as well as the stability and security of the country and the region. The July 25 constitutional referendum passed with more than 92% of …
RFI’s Post-Dobbs Threat Assessment Report Featured in Media
Last week RFI released an important new resource titled, Religious Pro-Life Americans Under Attack: A Threat Assessment of Post-Dobbs America. The report details the findings of a former FBI counter-terrorism and intelligence expert commissioned by RFI to assess recent attacks against pro-life congregations and organizations, and the prospects for future attacks, in the wake of the Dobbs Supreme Court decision. …
Implications of the Role of Religion in Tunisia’s New Constitution for Non-Muslims Movement in Tunisia
Cornerstone Series: Implications of Tunisia’s new constitution on religious freedom and associated rights, governance, and national and regional stability This Cornerstone Series invites experts, advocates, and analysts to expound on the implications of Tunisia’s new constitution for citizens as well as the stability and security of the country and the region. The July 25 constitutional referendum passed with more than 92% of …
Cornerstone Forum: Implications of Tunisia’s New Constitution on Religious Freedom and Associated Rights, Governance, and National and Regional Stability
This Cornerstone Series invites experts, advocates, and analysts to expound on the implications of Tunisia’s new constitution for citizens as well as the stability and security of the country and the region. The July 25 constitutional referendum passed with more than 92% of the vote — but the preliminary voter turnout was 27.5% as some opposition parties boycotted the vote. …
RFI Crisis Toolkit for Religious Institutions: Communications
Senior Fellow Dr. Charles Ramsey traveled to Afghanistan from May 8-19, 2022 to conduct field research in collaboration with the Religious Freedom Institute to ascertain the situation on the ground, understand actors within the regime, and identify those willing to support policies that protect the rights and dignity of all citizens. Through his research, he engaged with current and former government officials, scholars, university faculty, diplomats, and others to assess the political, religious, and social conditions affecting governance and security in Afghanistan.
The Evolution of Individual Rights and Religious Freedom Following the Arab Spring Movement in Tunisia
Cornerstone Series: Implications of Tunisia’s new constitution on religious freedom and associated rights, governance, and national and regional stability This Cornerstone Series invites experts, advocates, and analysts to expound on the implications of Tunisia’s new constitution for citizens as well as the stability and security of the country and the region. The July 25 constitutional referendum passed with more than 92% of …
RFI Releases Threat Advisory: Ongoing Criminal Attacks on Pro-Life Institutions
April 14, 2022, Washington, D.C. – The Religious Freedom Institute (RFI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Michael Nazir-Ali as Senior Fellow for International Religious Freedom Policy.
Religious Pro-Life Americans Under Attack
Senior Fellow Dr. Charles Ramsey traveled to Afghanistan from May 8-19, 2022 to conduct field research in collaboration with the Religious Freedom Institute to ascertain the situation on the ground, understand actors within the regime, and identify those willing to support policies that protect the rights and dignity of all citizens. Through his research, he engaged with current and former government officials, scholars, university faculty, diplomats, and others to assess the political, religious, and social conditions affecting governance and security in Afghanistan.
Iraq’s Future Depends on Achieving Religious Freedom in Mosul Today
DOWNLOAD THE PDF “How cruel is it that this country, the cradle of civilization, should have been afflicted by so barbarous a blow, with ancient places of worship destroyed and many thousands of people — Muslims, Christians, Yazidis and others — forcibly displaced or killed. Today, however, we reaffirm our conviction that fraternity is more durable than fratricide, that hope …
Forced Conversions Continue to Plague Girls in Pakistan’s Minority Communities
DOWNLOAD PDF As the United Nations observed August 22 as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, Pakistan’s religious minorities continued to endure forced conversions and unwarranted prosecutions under draconian blasphemy laws. Pakistan recently celebrated its 75th Independence Day on August 14 and National Minorities Day on August 11, but Pakistan’s beleaguered religious and ethnic …
RFI Joins Letter Urging GOP Senators to Oppose ‘Respect for Marriage Act’
In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges imposed same-sex marriage throughout the United States. Seven years later, the matter of marriage has surged back into the center of public debate, this time prompted by House passage of the “Respect for Marriage Act.” The Senate is expected to act in the coming days. On Tuesday, I joined more than 80 …
Five Promising Steps Forward for Religious Freedom: Reflections on Recommendations Offered at the 2022 IRF Summit
This article was adapted from closing remarks delivered by Eric Patterson at the 2022 IRF Summit in Washington, D.C. DOWNLOAD THE PDF The 2022 International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Washington DC resulted in nearly 60 formal recommendations by civil society groups. I was asked to review some of the most promising in the final plenary session of the Summit. …
RFI’s Eric Patterson Interviewed on “Ed Stetzer Live” on State of Religious Freedom in U.S.
RFI’s Executive Vice President Eric Patterson was recently interviewed on the “Ed Stetzer Live” radio show to discuss the outcome of Carson v. Makin, in which the Supreme Court rejected Maine’s policy to exclude faith-based schools from its private-school choice program. Patterson discussed this important victory for religious liberty, and provided an overview of the broader religious liberty landscape in …