For the past several months, The Washington Post has been interviewing John W. Whitehead about a chapter of The Rutherford Institute’s history that stretches back more than four decades and his role in helping to launch what became the modern religious freedom legal movement in America.
It is a complicated story—and an important one.
When John began this work, the principle was simple: religious freedom belongs to everyone.
It belongs to Christians, Muslims, Jews, atheists and people of every faith and no faith at all.
It cannot depend on which political party is in power, which religion is culturally dominant, or whether we agree with the person whose rights are being threatened.
That principle has guided The Rutherford Institute through decades of cases defending people across the religious and political spectrum.
Over time, however, parts of the religious liberty movement have become increasingly entangled with partisan politics, Christian nationalism and the pursuit of government power.
That is not religious freedom.
Freedom of conscience means very little if we defend it only for people who think, worship or vote as we do.
After more than 40 years of defending constitutional freedoms, one lesson remains constant: All freedoms hang together.
If we allow the government to decide whose beliefs deserve protection—and whose do not—none of us will remain free for long.
For more about John and his lifelong, broad-based stand for freedom, read the Washington Post profile here: “Why a lawyer who launched the Christian legal movement believes it’s gone astray.”
John W. Whitehead, Constitutional Attorney 