¿Qué debe contener una constitución en materia de libertad religiosa?

Gary Doxey es Director Asociado del Centro Internacional de Estudios de Derecho y Religión de la Universidad Brigham Young.

En ocasión de este Primer Foro Anual de Derecho y Religión del Cono Sur, quisiera abordar la pregunta: ¿Qué debe contener una constitución en materia de Libertad Religiosa? Es oportuno estudiar esta cuestión ya que la República de Chile actualmente está redactando una nueva constitución.

Debo recalcar que hablo desde una perspectiva internacional. No soy chileno, aunque Chile es un país que me resulta muy querido. Respeto profundamente la responsabilidad que tienen los chilenos, empezando por los honorables convencionales, de elegir las disposiciones de su constitución. Como extranjero me limito a ofrecer mis observaciones en calidad de estudiante de la materia, con la esperanza de que puedan ser de provecho.

(more…)

Continue Reading ¿Qué debe contener una constitución en materia de libertad religiosa?

The 2021 Religious Freedom Annual Review: An Overview

By Talk About: Law and Religion

The Religious Freedom Annual Review, sponsored by the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at BYU Law School, and co-sponsored by the Wheatley Institution at Brigham Young University, was held virtually on June 15-16, 2021. The 2021 theme, “Religion’s Role in Overcoming Divides and Strengthening American Democracy,” was reiterated by the three keynote speakers, Peter Wehner, Elder Dale G. Renlund, and Sister Ruth Lybbert Renlund. The opening session concluded with remarks by Asma Uddin, L. Whitney Clayton, and Brett Scharffs on religious identity and dignity in America.

Peter Wehner, a Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, stated that Christians ought to see others as equal. “Don’t withdraw from politics.” Christians should use Christianity to help define a “moral excellence…We’re called upon to be faithful—not successful,” and that Christians should “argue for truth, not for victory.”

(more…)

Continue Reading The 2021 Religious Freedom Annual Review: An Overview

Advancing Religious Freedom in Different Political Regimes in Theory and Practice

Elizabeth A. Clark is Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies and Regional Advisor for Europe at the J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University

There are many aspects of advancing religious freedom globally. As an academic, I can speak most to the theory and practice of assessing and promoting compliance with international norms on freedom of religion or belief.  In practice, I’ve consulted with national governments, NGOs, U.S. government bodies, or intergovernmental organizations in dozens of countries, with a particular emphasis in post-Communist Europe and Central Asia. Most of my work is this sphere is focused on legal analysis and education, often in the form of technical analyses of draft laws, working with other comparative law scholars on amicus briefs, expert testimony, or engaging in legal trainings.

At the outset, it’s important to stress that, even when I’ve worked with the U.S. government, the effort has never been to impose American values or norms, but to instead focus on compliance with international norms and treaties that a country may be party to.

To frame the question of advancing religious freedom, two models are helpful. The first looks at methods of influencing regimes to be more compliant with their international and domestic human rights commitments, and the second focuses more on the process of the regime change.

(more…)

Continue Reading Advancing Religious Freedom in Different Political Regimes in Theory and Practice