CRCC Executive Director Brie Loskota unpacked the meaning of “religious liberty” in the light of laws opposing LGBT rights on KPCC’s Take Two.
#Religion being persecuted by state is foundational idea, from Jewish passover to Jesus' crucifixion, @brieloskota on @kpcc @taketwo
— USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture (@usccrcc) March 29, 2016
Loskota was joined by Jessica Levinson, clinical professor of law at Loyola Law School, in addressing the Georgia bill, vetoed by the governor, that would have allowed faith-based organizations to discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
Religious liberty recently has been defined by such laws and the question of faith-based organizations allowing their employees to have insurance coverage for birth control.
The state curtailing the rights of religious minorities, such as Sikhs in the military, is a “standard” religious liberty issue, Loskota said. “But when it’s confronting these two competing notions of my rights and your rights and doing so in commerce or doing so in the public square, those things are more hotly contested.”
With court cases on these issues, we’re adjudicating through law what needs to be a cultural conversation, Loskota said. The challenge is that as a buzzword, “religious liberty” has become politically useful for some.
#ReligiousLiberty = way to drive a wedge, appeal to #evangelical narrative of religious persecution, says @brieloskota on @KPCC @taketwo
— USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture (@usccrcc) March 29, 2016
Click here to listen to the whole interview
