Which states are the best and worst at protecting religious liberty in the United States?

This question is addressed in the recently released annual "Religious Liberty in the States" report, produced by the Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy at the First Liberty Institute, a prominent conservative legal organization.

Co-authored by Mark David Hall and Paul D. Mueller, the report examines the number of legal protections or "safeguards" for religious freedom in each state. Researchers analyzed 47 distinct safeguards related to liberty of conscience.

Some of the issues covered in the report are euthanasia refusal, RFRA, health insurance mandates, use of alcohol by minors, designating clergy as mandatory reporters, foster parent requirements, absentee voting for religious reasons, and clergy non-participation in weddings. Aslo covered are churches protected from closing, vaccine mandate exemptions, refusal of clergy to participate in weddings (civil union and LGBTQ for instance).

Best States for Religious Liberty

Florida
Montana
Illinois
Ohio
Mississippi
Arkansas
South Carolina
Washington

Worst States for Religious Liberty

West Virgina
Wyoming
Michigan
Nebraska
Vermont
New York
North Carolina
California

Michigan and California and New York are not a surprise. Wyoming is a bit of a surprise.

Religious liberty is critical to the foundation and function of America. Liberty of conscience is a valuable safeguard for bodily autonomy, as we learned during the Covid debacle.

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“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Gal. 5:1).