Amendments Quote by William Anthony Donohue
“To the ACLU, the First Amendment speaks more directly to freedom from religion than it does to freedom of religion.”
About This Quote
Source Article: The ACLU and First Amendment, 2020
The First Amendment primarily protects against government-imposed religion, less so the right to practice religion.
In simple terms: Protects from state religion, not necessarily free practice.
Key Takeaway
Recognize limits of religious freedom protections.
Themes
religion
law
civil liberties
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
legal
political
When to use this quote
- legal analysis
- public policy
- education curricula
- media reporting
Key Concepts
constitutional law
separation of church and state
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this interpretation affect religious minorities?
- What balance should exist between freedom from and of religion?
A Different Perspective
May ignore broader religious liberty issues.
![“The [Apache] tribe was under siege by government agents, who had jailed some of the medicine men for practicing their rituals. Freedom of religion was cherished as a sacrosanct American right -- everywhere, that is, but on the archipelago of Indian life.” quote by Timothy Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4a7/timothy-egan-30685_civil-rights_the-apache-tribe-was-under-siege-by-gove_257474.jpg)
