Maryland deserves credit for protecting religious freedom

When Americans consider religious liberty, we often think of the First Amendment and related federal laws, but much of the responsibility to safeguard this freedom falls to individual states. Recent findings from the 2024 Religious Liberty in the States report reveal a stark contrast between Maryland and Virginia in this regard, with Maryland far surpassing its southern neighbor. Religious Liberty in the States (RLS), an annual research project of the Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy, ranks states on their religious liberty policies. According to its 2024 ranking released last...