Guest Voices: freedom


Posted at 12:39 PM ET, 12/31/2012

Watch Night: The ‘moment when memory becomes hope’
By Valerie Elverton Dixon
A reflection on link between New Year’s Eve services and the Emancipation Proclamation.

By Valerie Elverton Dixon  |  12:39 PM ET, 12/31/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Valerie Elverton Dixon; Watch Night; Watch Night services; New Year’s Eve services; worship services; Emancipation Proclamation; Abraham Lincoln; Civil War; freedom

Posted at 01:23 PM ET, 12/27/2012

Faith-based procrastination: Religious job bias in taxpayer-funded program
By Barry W. Lynn
The government should not fund efforts to use religion to discriminate, says advocate of separation of church and state.

By Barry W. Lynn  |  01:23 PM ET, 12/27/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Taxpayer-funded programs; religious freedom; religious discrimination; Brookings Institution; Joshua DuBois; Barry W. Lynn; Americans United for the Separation of Church and State; religious liberty

Posted at 11:59 AM ET, 12/24/2012

So this is Christmas . . .

By Katrina Lantos Swett
The promise of the season remains elusive for many Christians and other persecuted groups.

By Katrina Lantos Swett  |  11:59 AM ET, 12/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Katrina Lantos Swett; Christmas; Christians; Bethlehem; Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; Jesus; Christ’s birth; U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom; religious freedom; persecuted

Posted at 05:10 PM ET, 12/12/2012

Religious freedom, not just for the religious
By Charles C. Haynes
Survey highlights how “religious nones” are treated as enemies of the state in some societies.

By Charles C. Haynes  |  05:10 PM ET, 12/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Charles C. Haynes; religious freedom; atheists; humanists; non-religious people; discrimination; persecution; Freedom of Thought 2012; International Humanist and Ethical Union; religious nones; First Amendment

Posted at 01:17 PM ET, 12/06/2012

Let my people know
By Stuart Kurlander
On the Mall in 1987, thousands rallied for Soviet Jews and found themselves in the process.

By Stuart Kurlander  |  01:17 PM ET, 12/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Let my people know; let my people go; Exodus; Judaism; Jewish community; American Jewry; Diaspora; National Mall; Mall; solidarity for Soviet Jewry; Soviet Jews; Jews in the Soviet Union; Elie Wiesel; Soviet Jewry Movement; Washington summit; D.C. summit; Mikhail Gorbachev; Communist Party; Ronald Reagan; 1.5 million Jews; former Soviet Union; human rights orientation; human rights oragnizations; Alan Dershowitz; Eastern European; Iron Curtain; Washington Jews; Israel; Germany; United States; freedom; rally; Darfur; genocide; conflicts; human rights violations; Hebrew; English; Stuart Kurlander; Jewish Federation of Greater Washington

Posted at 02:23 PM ET, 12/05/2012

Former minister: ‘We atheists love this time of year like everyone else’
By Dan Barker
In the American public square, there is room at the inn for all of us, says an atheist activist.

By Dan Barker  |  02:23 PM ET, 12/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Charles C. Haynes; Christmas wars; atheists; religious symbols; public property; December dilemma; all Americans; nonbelievers; stay home for the holidays; Christian groups; Nativity scenes; public spaces; Christians; Damon Vix; holiday displays; nonreligious displays; Santa Monica; Winter Solstice; Freedom From Religion Foundation; Christian; Christian Church; Jesus; Jesus Christ; pagan sun gods; Savior; saviors; messianic Jews; Romans; Saturnalia; New Year; Dies Natalis of Sol Invictus; Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun; new year; reason for the season; shortest day of the year; lights; food; gifts; fun; music; family gatherings; return of the sun; evergreen; supernatural; birth of a god; beliefs; freedom of speech; freedom of religion; Protestantism; Puritans; Christmas; Roman Catholic; faith; Catholics;

Posted at 04:58 PM ET, 12/04/2012

Israel, Palestine must take the high road to reach a successful recovery
By Salaam Bhatti
Palestine’s upgraded U.N. status is a much-needed step forward, but it’s not enough, says a N.Y. lawyer.

By Salaam Bhatti  |  04:58 PM ET, 12/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  United Nations; U.N. status; Israel; Israel Palestine partition; Palestine; Palestinians; permanent observer; Torah; Quran; Qu’ran; Koran; Muslims; Islam; Jewish; Jews; Judaism; Allah; Moses; non-Muslims; ceasefire; cease-fire; Gaza; United Nations; International Criminal Court; Rome Statute; Germany; war crimes; prophet Muhammad; Prophet Muhammad; Mecca; Ten Commandments; freedom of conscience; Maimonides; Salaam Bhatti

Posted at 01:57 PM ET, 11/21/2012

A day devoted to gratitude
By Edgar M. Bronfman
The holiday is also a time to reflect on what it means to be American, says a Canadian-born philanthropist.

By Edgar M. Bronfman  |  01:57 PM ET, 11/21/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Edgar M. Bronfman; Holidays; holiday; Thanksgiving; giving thanks; gratitude; American national holiday; national holiday; Canada; Canadian-born; religious origin; thanks; giving; counting our blessings; blessings; friends; family; honoring the country; country; American citizens; citizen; immigrants; Russian-Jewish immigrants; United States; New York City; Big Apple; the skyscrapers; America; American; privileges; freedom of religion; principle; refuge; faith; respect; traditions; liberty; freedom of speech; separation of church and state; ideals; religion; freedom of expression; Jew; Judaism; Jewish people; Jewish experience; Jews; Jewish rights; Abraham Lincoln; Lincoln; Civil War; slavery; abolition; nation divided; abolition of slavery;

Posted at 02:38 PM ET, 10/31/2012

In East Texas, does cheering for God erase church-state line?
By Charles C. Haynes
If the cheerleaders prevail, their victory could open the door for more student religious expression at school-sponsored events.

By Charles C. Haynes  |  02:38 PM ET, 10/31/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  religious freedom; free speech; Kountz Texas; Bible banners; cheerleaders; Texas football case; Charles C. Haynes

Posted at 01:37 PM ET, 10/27/2012

Commemorating International Religious Freedom Day
By Katrina Lantos Swett
Religious freedom is a pivotal human right. For humanitarian purposes alone, it must be defended.

By Katrina Lantos Swett  |  01:37 PM ET, 10/27/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  International Religious Freedom Day; USCIRF; human right; religious minorities; Secretary of State; politics; faith and politics

Posted at 03:37 PM ET, 10/08/2012

Don’t deface anti-Muslim Metro ads
By Nathan Lean
Responding with actions that foster lasting relationships and a sense of goodwill are far more effective.

By Nathan Lean  |  03:37 PM ET, 10/08/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  afdi; American Freedom Defense Initiative; subway ads; Islam; Muslim; nathan lean;

Posted at 06:57 PM ET, 09/18/2012

Celebrating AB1964, California’s new religious freedom law
By Rajdeep Singh
It has American pluralism written all over it. The nation deserves to know why this law matters.

By Rajdeep Singh  |  06:57 PM ET, 09/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Workplace Religious Freedom Act; AB1964; California's new religious freedom; Sikhs; Sikh Coalition

Posted at 06:23 PM ET, 08/20/2012

Religious liberty: Gold for the U.S.?
By C. Naseer Ahmad
With focus on religious liberty, Clinton has set a goal that might be more than its weight in gold.

By C. Naseer Ahmad  |  06:23 PM ET, 08/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  religious freedom, religious persecution, C. Naseer Ahmad, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Posted at 11:33 AM ET, 08/10/2012

Obama’s ‘war on religion’: Breaking down Romney’s new attack ad
By Jacques Berlinerblau
What we need to figure out is why the GOP nominee is now pursuing this line of attack and whether it will be effective.

By Jacques Berlinerblau  |  11:33 AM ET, 08/10/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  religious freedom, 'war on religion' ad, Mitt Romney, President Obama, Jacques Berlinerblau

Posted at 07:32 PM ET, 07/06/2012

America can be brought back to greatness, one life at a time
By David McGee
Our nation is in trouble - in debt and in decline morally. What’s the solution when politics can’t save us?

By David McGee  |  07:32 PM ET, 07/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  David McGee, freedom, Declaration of Independence

Posted at 11:31 AM ET, 04/20/2012

What makes a Catholic patriot?
By Mathew N. Schmalz
Catholics are patriotic Americans precisely in their catholicity.

By Mathew N. Schmalz  |  11:31 AM ET, 04/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  catholic church, religious freedom, catholicism

Posted at 01:22 PM ET, 03/26/2012

How Pope Benedict could shape religious freedom in Cuba
By Teo A. Babun
The challenge the pontiff faces is how to turn a springtime of faith into a springtime of freedom.

By Teo A. Babun  |  01:22 PM ET, 03/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  pope benedict xvi, catholic church, cuba, castros, freedom, religious freedom

Posted at 10:58 AM ET, 03/23/2012

Why we’re standing up for religious freedom
By Mary Rose Somarriba
The federal government is still telling religious institutions to provide products and services they find objectionable.

By Mary Rose Somarriba  |  10:58 AM ET, 03/23/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  religious freedom, contraception, catholic church

Posted at 11:49 AM ET, 03/22/2012

What atheist groups learned from the Christian Coalition
By Herb Silverman
Could the conservative Christian group have a valuable political lesson for diverse groups of atheists?

By Herb Silverman  |  11:49 AM ET, 03/22/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  reason rally, religious freedom, atheism, secularism, christianity

Posted at 04:10 PM ET, 03/21/2012

Why women need secularism
By R. Elisabeth Cornwell
Women must defend hard-won victories to control their religious lives from encroachment by religious radicals.

By R. Elisabeth Cornwell  |  04:10 PM ET, 03/21/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  women's rights, religion, freedom, secularism

Posted at 04:39 PM ET, 03/15/2012

Rock Beyond Belief: An atheist victory at Fort Bragg

By Michael L. “Mikey” Weinstein
Army base’s ‘Rock Beyond Belief’ festival is a had-fought victory for atheists.

By Michael L. “Mikey” Weinstein  |  04:39 PM ET, 03/15/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  atheist, military, religious freedom

Posted at 09:52 AM ET, 03/09/2012

Why claims of conscience matter
By Charles C. Haynes
Accommodations for religious liberty are often messy, but they are what make America a global haven for the cause of conscience.

By Charles C. Haynes  |  09:52 AM ET, 03/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  religious freedom, first amendment, bill of rights, conscience

Posted at 02:48 PM ET, 03/01/2012

All about Eve: The Christian roots of the GOP war on women
By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite
The Blunt amendment’s defeat is merely a skirmish in what looks to be a protracted struggle for women’s freedom and dignity in this country.

By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite  |  02:48 PM ET, 03/01/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  contraception, women's rights, religious freedom, conscience

Posted at 04:18 PM ET, 02/23/2012

Why this Baptist is opposed to the Catholic Bishops on the birth control mandate
By Valerie Elverton Dixon
Trust women to use their own minds and their own moral consciences to make a decision that is right.

By Valerie Elverton Dixon  |  04:18 PM ET, 02/23/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  religious freedom, baptists, birth control

Posted at 02:38 PM ET, 02/23/2012

In New York City, does church-school separation go too far?
By Charles Haynes
When taken too far, “separation” sends a message of government hostility toward religion.

By Charles Haynes  |  02:38 PM ET, 02/23/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  religious freedom, religion politics, church and state

Posted at 09:14 AM ET, 02/22/2012

Why Baptists stand with Catholics on birth control mandate
By Bryant Wright, Richard Land and O. S. Hawkins
Despite our theological differences, we cannot remain silent while others find their First Amendment freedom of religion rights trampled.

By Bryant Wright, Richard Land and O. S. Hawkins  |  09:14 AM ET, 02/22/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  religious freedom, baptist, catholic, birth control

Posted at 10:55 PM ET, 02/19/2012

Why we are all Catholics now
By Glenn Beck
This battle over birth control coverage harkens back to America’s founding: If you can’t serve God as you choose, you are not free.

By Glenn Beck  |  10:55 PM ET, 02/19/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  birth control, religious freedom, catholic church, mormonism