"The phrases “religious liberty” and
“religious freedom” will stand for nothing except hypocrisy so long as they
remain code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia,
Islamophobia, Christian supremacy or any form of intolerance.
 |
| Mr, Martin Castro, Chairman of US Commission on Civil Rights |
Religious liberty was never intended
to give one religion dominion over other religions, or a veto power over the
civil rights and civil liberties of others. However, today, as in the past,
religion is being used as both a weapon and a shield by those seeking to deny
others equality.
In our nation’s past religion has
been used to justify slavery and later, Jim Crow laws. We now see “religious
liberty” arguments sneaking their way back into our political and
constitutional discourse (just like the concept of “state rights”) in an effort
to undermine the rights of some Americans. This generation of Americans must
stand up and speak out to ensure that religion never again be twisted to deny
others the full promise of America."
Mr.
Martin Castro, Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
“Peaceful
Coexistence: Reconciling Nondiscrimination Principles with Civil Liberties.” September 2016
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