From Hobby Lobby to Obergefell: Religious Freedom and Its Potential Effects on Public Schools

• In Event: Roundtable Session 26
  In Roundtable Session: Religion and Education in Public School Contexts: Roundtable Discussions

Abstract

Understandings of religious freedom have changed significantly in light of the passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and recent court decisions. Public servants and employees have since begun to use religious freedom arguments in efforts to receive accommodations or avoid performing professional obligations. In this paper, we examine the arguments advanced by public officials in their refusal to issue marriage licenses or perform same-sex weddings and consider how if these arguments are allowed to stand in these capacities, the implications for public schools could be devastating.

Authors

• Suzanne N. Rosenblith, Clemson University

• Benjamin J. Bindewald, Oklahoma State University

• Bob Green, Clemson University