AFPI Fights for Religious Liberty: Cites the Bill of Rights

WASHINGTON, D.C.— This week, the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) filed a pivotal Amicus Brief in the Supreme Court case St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Lisa Roy that has the potential to overturn 35 years of erroneous precedent, returning America to the religious freedom promised in the Bill of Rights.

Since Employment Division v. Smith in 1990, the Court has failed to give religious liberty the vigorous protection that it deserves. Decades prior, the Court abandoned the original understanding of religious freedom codified by the Founding Fathers in the Bill of Rights. The Religion Clauses were ratified to guarantee broad protections for a narrowly defined class of beliefs. Yet, over the years, the Court has adopted a series of contradictory positions resulting in a confused Religion Clauses jurisprudence and increased restrictions on religious liberty throughout the country.

“We advocate for the Court to adopt the definition of religion envisioned by the First Amendment in order to uphold the rights it was created to protect. Religion and its free exercise are at the foundation of our society. If we abandon our roots, we lose a core part of what makes America great and cannot hope to maintain a flourishing republic,” said Tyler Cochran, associate attorney at AFPI and author of the brief.

Dr. Rich Rogers, vice chair for American Values at AFPI, added:

“As a pastor, I have seen firsthand that faith is not merely a private belief—it is a lived commitment. By filing this amicus brief, we are urging the Supreme Court to restore clarity to the Free Exercise Clause and reaffirm what the Founders understood: religious liberty protects the right to live out one’s faith inside and outside the walls of the church, not just hold it quietly.”

AFPI will continue to advocate for policies that preserve America’s faith, religious freedom, and founding biblical principles.