When the COVID pandemic began in 2020, businesses deemed “non-essential” were closed or severely disrupted due to governmental restrictions. Since churches and other places of worship were deemed non-essential, they were forced to shut their doors, keeping millions of worshipers from engaging in their right to religious expression. Although the government should never compel someone to practice any form of religion when tragedy strikes, it makes no sense for our government to discourage religious practice during times of crisis either.
Especially during times of crisis, our country needs religious expression and the freedom to practice religion on a regular basis. Churches and other places of worship should certainly be considered essential – especially when one considers that strip clubs and casinos somehow got exemptions to remain open. Certainly the spiritual welfare and First Amendment rights of Americans are more important.
Religious organizations are systems of care for people in time of need. They help provide invaluable infrastructure and support to front-line workers responding to emergencies, give worshipers consistency and hope in the midst of tragedy and cultivate an engaged populace. Instead of elevating strip clubs, we need to elevate religious expression.
The freedom to practice religion also makes individuals happier and more civically engaged, according to a recent Pew research study. In a survey that studies the habits of religiously unaffiliated, religiously inactive and religiously active, active individuals were consistently happier, more civically engaged, more likely to vote and more likely to engage in other groups. This is a benefit to public life in the best of times, but a major asset during times of crisis. In another Pew research study, people who actively practice religion are more likely to volunteer their time to help others.
The right to worship freely and unencumbered by the government has always been a foundational part of American life, going back to the many original European settlers who came to our shores fleeing religious persecution. Today, millions of individuals are displaced and continue to seek refuge from religious persecution here. The American promise is that every American can practice his or her religion without persecution and it has been fundamental in building a religiously diverse nation. That diversity – and the ability to practice openly – matters.
Since the pandemic, some states have changed future guidance to make sure places of worship are seen as essential. Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire signed a bill into law making places of worship essential for future health crises. This is a great step forward in protecting religious liberty, but it is not enough to protect it across the country. More states must follow suit if we are to encourage religious freedom moving forward. When we treat religious organizations as essential during a state of emergency, we help ensure they can continue to assist people through crises. It’s time the federal government remembered their commitment to the First Amendment.
