SNEK POLICY
Religious Liberty and Government Neutrality
Government should remain neutral toward religion while protecting the freedom to practice a faith, change faiths, or practice none.
Religious freedom
Religious organizations should generally control their internal doctrine and worship.
Limits
Religious accommodation should be handled in ways that protect sincere practice without establishing religion or overriding other people’s legal rights.
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Why SNEK thinks this
Religious liberty is strongest when government is neutral enough to protect believers and nonbelievers alike. SNEK does not want government promoting a faith, punishing a faith, or deciding which sincere beliefs are respectable enough to receive protection.
How it would work
People should be free to worship, not worship, change religion, speak about religion, organize religious communities, and practice their faith so long as they do not violate the rights of others. Government institutions should not establish an official religion or condition ordinary civic rights on religious belief. Religious organizations should generally control their internal doctrine, clergy, worship, and sacramental practices.
Where we’re flexible or still working it out
Religious belief does not create a general exemption from laws protecting people from violence, abuse, fraud, or other concrete harms. Conflicts between religious exercise and generally applicable rules should be handled narrowly, with serious effort to accommodate conscience when doing so does not impose a substantial violation of another person’s rights.
Related SNEK policies
A Safety Net That Protects People and Builds Families • Parental Rights and Child Protection