Written by: Allison Ralph and Maya Radwan
I argued recently that Americans’ willingness to protect First Amendment rights for each other should be a central path to revitalizing a pluralistic American democracy. This theory is about to get tested.
Religious freedom is once again at the forefront of battles over the good society. On February 6, President Trump signed an executive order highlighting the importance of freedom of religion and also establishing a DOJ “Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias.” Five days later, on February 11, a Quaker-led lawsuit challenged the administration’s decision to allow ICE raids in houses of worship on religious freedom grounds. This was followed by a broader multi-faith coalition of 27 organizations filing a separate lawsuit making similar claims.
Then, on February 18th, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) filed its own lawsuit against the freezing of federal funds for approved refugee resettlement purposes. This claim was not explicitly on religious freedom grounds, but still argues that USCCB’s resettlement work “is an expression of charity taken in fulfillment of Christ’s commandment to serve those in need.”
These cases highlight the broader question of how religious freedom is interpreted and applied in a pluralistic democracy. At stake is whether all religious communities can rely on consistent protections, regardless of their beliefs or political positions.
Religious Freedom at a Crossroads
The Trump administration has positioned itself as a champion of religious freedom, recently signing an executive order to fight “anti-Christian bias” and convening a Justice Department task force to prosecute crimes against Christians. Trump has framed himself as the first president to take religious liberty seriously, stating that without it, “we don’t even have a country.”
The Trump administration has raised the religious freedom concerns of some Americans. But if the concerns of some are raised, it goes without saying that others are left behind.
The backlash to recent policies has been significant. The Quaker-led lawsuit challenges the rescinding of protections for “sensitive locations,” which previously discouraged ICE enforcement actions in churches, hospitals, and schools. Their argument is that these policies chill religious practice by deterring immigrant congregants from attending services. The multi-faith coalition of 27 religious organizations that filed suit shortly after expanded on similar claims and emphasized the broader implications for religious freedom across faith communities.
Meanwhile, the USCCB lawsuit also raises questions about whether restrictions on funding for faith-based social services constitute an infringement on religious expression. The bishops’ argument points to the broader issue of faith communities’ ability to carry out their missions without government interference.
Expanding the Religious Freedom Coalition
For conservative Christians, this presents a dilemma. Many have supported Trump precisely because of his stance on religious freedom. But now some faith groups say his policies are infringing on their rights to practice their beliefs. I hope this will lead to renewed energy in the religious freedom space in the US, with a more diverse coalition than ever before uniting around this shared, fundamental right.
Religious freedom, in particular, is an issue near to my heart. For years I’ve worked to convince people across sect, race, religion, and ideology that it is in their best interest to protect each other’s religious freedom rights. And to be clear—that means protecting each other’s rights to advocate for all kinds of policies on the basis of religious freedom, even when we disagree with those policies.
You know why? Because someone else’s right to advocate on the basis of religious freedom is also our own. if we deny it to someone else, we deny it for ourselves.
If this moment leads to a renewed commitment to religious freedom as a shared right, I hope pro-democracy organizations will recognize the moment as a rare chance to build bridges with communities they have long dismissed as politically opposed.
Strengthening Pro-Democracy Alliances
For too long, pro-democracy organizations and funders have kept faith-inspired organizations at arm’s length, wary of their views on social issues like LGBTQ+ rights and reproductive justice. But as Diana Aviv and I argue in our recent piece for The Chronicle of Philanthropy, this hesitation has weakened the democracy movement.
Faith-inspired organizations play a vital role in civic life, serving as trusted messengers and mobilizing their communities by reaching communities and mobilizing efforts. Recent events have demonstrated how these organizations, often sidelined in democracy work, can come together to advocate for shared concerns.
This moment presents an opportunity for broader coalitions, challenging pro-democracy groups to engage with faith-inspired organizations on common social issues. Strengthening these alliances will be key to bridging divides and reinforcing democratic norms.
This is not just about immigration policy—it’s about ensuring that religious freedom is protected as a constitutional right, rather than wielded selectively. Ignoring faith-inspired organizations that are actively engaging in democracy work risks reinforcing the very divisions that democracy advocates aim to bridge.
Faith groups are already stepping up. The challenge now is whether the rest of the democracy movement will do the same.
If you’re thinking about how to build pluralistic coalitions, Cohesion Strategy can help. Get in touch to explore how your organization can navigate these complex but essential partnerships.
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