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Government and Laws
related to religion and morality:

Government matters, political parties,
church-state separation, human rights, school prayer,
compulsory morality, human sexuality, etc. 

Quotation:

Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

Two caveats:

1. Don't try to change your religion if you live in some counries. Some countries that have a state religion have laws making you eligible to be executed by the government after a trial, or by your family in an honor killing if you change your religion from the official belief system.
   
   
2. Don't try to apply your religious beliefs in practice if it includes the need to discriminate against or to denigrate others. There may be human rights legislation in place that make such treatment a crime.

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The essays listed below deal almost exclusively with North American constitutional law.

Separation of church and state is mandated by the 1^st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Although this phrase is not specifically mentioned in the Constitution, the U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted the 1^st Amendment as requiring such separation.

A similar principle has evolved largely through popular custom in Canada.

The result of this separation, in our opinion, has been a vigorous religious life coupled with a relative lack of religious persecution. Many countries have traditionally had closer links between state and religion. This has led (and continues to lead) to serious persecution of minority religions in many areas of the world. 

Overview:

Sampling of U.S., Canadian, other country's, and international laws, covenants, and constitutional protections of freedom of religion

Canadian conflict over the Canada Christian College & School of Graduate Theological Studies

13^th century U.S. law:

The termination of America's oldest freedom: habeas corpus

18^th century U.S. laws:

	Religious Discrimination in Early America
	1791 The First Amendment of the US Constitution
	1988 Williamsburg Charter on the First Amendment

	1786 Virginia's "Act for Establishing Religious Freedom"
	1777 Thomas Jefferson's bill for religious freedom in Virginia

20th / 21st century U.S. laws and bills:

	Federal abortion laws: Laws restricting abortion Parental notification and consent laws Interstate travel to abortion clinics The "FACE" law Use of the RICO laws against pro-life groups The "Born-alive Infants Protection Act"
	Other federal laws: Religious freedom and liberty (RFRA, RLPA, RLUIPA) Workplace Religious Freedom Act * Anti-Genocide law (Proxmire Act) Laws restricting Internet content: (CPOA, CIPA, KIDS.US) Why we opposed the Communications Decency Amendment Laws oppressing or protecting homosexuals Bill S. 1 of the 110th Congress to control paid stimulation of grassroots lobbying
	State laws: Religious discrimination in state constitutions Can Atheists be excluded from "an office or public trust?" "Torcaso v. Watkins" Criminalization of homosexual behavior Divination in North Carolina Ritual sacrifice of animals in Florida and Texas Safe haven laws for abandoned newborns Sex offenders: retributive justice may increase danger to society
	Other items: "God" and "Christianity" in the constitution of the European Union Congressional resolutions acknowledging American Muslims Recognizing religious holidays in Massachusetts Religious discrimination in the U.S. Postal Service How legislators decide how to vote on bills with moral/ethical content Oklahoma Republicans' resolution on morality, "debauchery" etc.

* Bill only

Church-state separation issues:

	The "Wall of Separation" between church & state, and the Istook "Religious Freedom" Constitutional Amendment
	Guaranteeing personal religious freedom in the U.S. Petition to regain and preserve religious freedom
	Recent laws & court rulings affecting: Public Schools, libraries, School Boards: A general introduction: Part 1: Overview. Prayers during school instruction time. Two major U.S. Supreme Court rulings: Engel v. Vitale & Lemon v. Kurtzman. Part 2: What the U.S. Constitution prohibits (Cont'd). Part 3: What the U.S. Constitution allows. Enforcing religious rights. Factors to consider: prayers in school. Part 4: Factors to consider about prayers in school (Continued). List of landmark court rulings. Equal Access Act regarding student clubs Non-profit groups: Political activities by churches & other non-profit groups State, and municipal government issues: Religious holidays Religious symbols in state & municipal displays, crests, mottos, logos, etc. Prayer at municipal and county council meetings Religious animal sacrifice in Florida Misc. court rulings Christian memorial crosses beside highways Government funding of religious groups: Government vouchers for religious schools Charitable choice programs Other items: Religious programming on TV Harry Potter: church/state and library censorship issues Organizing religious and other clubs in public schools
	The Ten Commandments#: Menu Posting them in courts, schools etc.   Detailed analysis of the text: what they really say. Recent news items
	Government mottos, pledges, and oaths in the U.S.: The National Mottos: History and constitutionality of the  motto Basis, suitability and proposed uses Pledge of Allegiance State mottos Municipal government's symbols "So help me God" in court swearing-in ceremonies
	Canada: Church/state separation issues 'Witchcraft" in the Criminal Code of Canada Government interaction with religion

Government makeup and policy:

	Religious policy of the incoming U.S. President & Congress, 2000 to 2003
	Moral and religious aspects of the 2004 presidential election
	Moral aspects of the 2006 budget and state of the nation speech
	Religious aspects of the 2006 mid-term elections
	Religious aspects of the year 2008 presidential elections

Human rights issues, worldwide:

	Laws restricting hate speech
	The 50th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights
	United Nations' Declarations on Religious Intolerance
	UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners
	Government oppression of religion in Europe (1999)
	Human rights in oppressive regimes
	Proposed anti-discrimination law in New South Wales, Australia
	Genocides & mass crimes against humanity - often religion based
	Human rights defined, denied and restored: State sovereignty vs. individual human rights

Government matters, political parties, etc.:

	Have the Democrats Lost Their Soul? An essay donated by Contributing Editor Susan Humphreys
	How judges and justices interpret constitutions and laws: Two main methods
	Impact of future appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court
	Filibustering in the U.S. Senate
	Copyright theft from our web site
	Information on bills before Congress, contacting your senators or representative, etc.
	Legal aspects of faith healing
	The American "Family Tree" of the National Constitution Center
	Taking the Congressional oath of office: religious aspects

See also statements on religious freedom and tolerance, in the U.S. and elsewhere.

External Links:

	The text of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights is at: http://www.un.org/
	"Thomas", a service of the Library of Congress, provides federal legislative information online. See: http://thomas.loc.gov/

Last update: 2016_JUL-25

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