The first clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution commands that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The right to free exercise of religion has often been referred to as our “first freedom,” first in the Constitution but, more importantly, first in importance.
James Madison underscored the importance of religious liberty when he wrote in A Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments that:
The Religion then of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man; and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate. This right is in its nature an unalienable right. It is unalienable, because… what is here a right towards men, is a duty towards the Creator.
Today we often see governmental bodies and officials encroaching on freedom of religion. These encroachments take many forms, from local regulations to federal laws.
Our attorneys at Provident Law® understand the importance of religious liberty and the need to protect it through constant vigilance. Indeed, as James Madison went on to write, “It is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties.” We have an extensive background in litigating religious liberty issues and in advising clients on when and how to protect their religious liberties.