Values

• We support the separation of religion and state and believe that public policy should not impose or privilege any religious viewpoint.
• We support religious liberty and the ability to exercise one’s rights based on conscience, moral codes and beliefs.
• We support public policies that both respect religious liberty and protect against the use of religious beliefs or traditions to discriminate or undermine equality.
• We advance religious liberty and justice that respects individuals, supports the common good and reflects the foundational principles of our nation.

Resources

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops and its ultraconservative allies have been especially vocal in claiming that religious liberty is under threat. But a cursory examination of their arguments shows that they do not stand up to any scrutiny. In this issue of Conscience, we have a report on the recent CLJ forum and include articles by several CLJ members who take a long, hard look at what’s at stake in the ongoing debate over real religious freedom. Read the entire issue here.

CLJ member organizations submitted joint comments to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor in response to the August 2014 call for public comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking and interim final rule regarding contraceptive coverage regulations. In these official comments on regulatory action, coalition members requested that any regulation regarding coverage requirements for non-profit organizations or for-profit organizations ensure respect for the religious liberty rights of workers and their dependents as well.

On March 25, 2014, Coalition members urged the Supreme Court to affirm real religious liberty as it heard oral arguments in the cases brought against the Affordable Care Act by Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp.  

In “Towards a Truly ‘Civil’ Society,” Sara Hutchinson of Catholics for Choice and Sammie Moshenberg of the National Council of Jewish Women explain why their organizations set up the Coalition for Liberty & Justice.

During a forum on August 21, 2013, “Defending Real Religious Liberty for All,” experts from the Coalition for Liberty & Justice and allies from the international community met to discuss the current state of church/state separation in light of the US State Department’s announcement of the creation of the Office of Faith-Based Community Initiatives, as well as the ongoing litigation over federal contraceptive coverage requirements. Listen to podcasts from this event here.