The United States Constitution, First Amendment, declares that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof….”

Section 4 of the Constitution of the State of Idaho guarantees religious liberty: “The exercise and enjoyment of religious faith and worship shall forever be guaranteed; and no person shall be denied any civil or political right, privilege, or capacity on account of his religious opinions….”

Idaho Code Section 73-402 deems free exercise of religion to be a “fundamental right” which can be burdened by government only via the “least restrictive means” of furthering of a “compelling governmental interest”.

No right–including freedom of religion–is absolute. The “interesting” scenarios involve situations where one “guaranteed right” conflicts with another.

So, on a national (and, to some extent, on a state) level, we have seen people over the last several years lose jobs because of their religious beliefs (or because of their expression of their religious beliefs). We have seen individuals who have been forced to act in conflict with their religious beliefs. We have seen students’ religious rights limited while at school or at school-sponsored events. We have seen businesses who are punished for acting consistent with the religious beliefs of the business owners. We have seen discrimination against faith-based clubs on college campuses.

That there are those whose “agenda” is to, first, take religious liberty off of the pedestal upon which our Founding Fathers placed it and, then, to do away with religious liberty altogether is clear.

Religious liberty was one of the causes for which the Revolutionary War was fought. It was one of the pillars upon which our country was created. It is just as important–just as fundamental–now as it was then!

As a member of the Idaho House of Representatives, I will zealously and vigorously defend religious liberty!