(ZENIT News / Washington, D.C., 29.10.2024).- With just over a week left before the presidential elections in the United States, the 2024 Faith and Freedom Index, produced by the Napa Legal Institute, reveals a worrying scene regarding religious freedom in the country. This study, which assesses the capacity of non-profit religious institutions to operate and prosper, highlights low and often fluctuating levels of such freedom, especially in the seven States regarded as key for the electoral outcome.
The Index’s results, based on the analysis of 14 types of State laws, indicate that the majority of these States got scores under 60% in terms of religious freedom. Georgia leads this group with a score of 55%, followed by North Carolina (50%) and Pennsylvania, a crucial State with 19 seats in the Electoral College, which reached only 44%. In contrast, States like Michigan and Nevada are in the low part of the table, with scores of 22% and 29% respectively. This latter situation has sparked reactions in Michigan’s religious leaders, especially after a recent incident that involved Governor Gretchen Whitmer, generating controversy in the Catholic community.
As opposed to these States with obvious challenges, Alabama and Indiana stand out for their solid protections of religious organizations, offering a favourable regulatory framework. According to the Napa Institute, these States show that it is possible to balance the protection of religious freedom with support to non-profit organizations, through accessible tax and fundraising systems. In contrast, Massachusetts and Washington are among the lowest on the Index, with complex regulatory regimes and scarce protections for faith-based organizations.
The situation in several States has shown a positive change since the publication of the initial Index in 2023. States such as Iowa, Nebraska and Utah have promulgated laws that restore religious freedom, thus improving their scores on the Index. Mary Margaret Beecher, Vice-President of Napa Legal, underscores the need that States act in defense of religious freedom, especially in an election year marked by uncertainty.
Moreover, the Catholic community, which represents a significant part of the electorate in key States such as Pennsylvania, can play a crucial role in the result of these elections. The perception that the Biden-Harris Administration hasn’t addressed their concerns adequately, might influence the vote of many Catholics, who see in the future make-up of the Supreme Court a question of great importance for the defense of their rights.
With the country’s attention fixed on the coming rallies, the Faith and Freedom Index becomes a reminder that the state of religious freedom in the United States is not only a legal matter, but a question that has a profound impact on the life of communities. The capacity of religious organizations to operate without obstacles is fundamental for the country’s social fabric and, as the political struggle intensifies, the protection of these rights will be crucial for the nation’s future.
