Commission On Religious Prejudices PDF Download

The United States Commission on Civil Rights sponsored a consultation on "Religious Discrimination: A Neglected Issue" on April 9-10, 1979, in Washington, D.C. The focus of the consultation was on the civil rights issues, rather than the civil liberties issue, involved in religious discrimination. As was noted in the briefing paper for this consultation:"Religious civil liberties issues cluster around the first amendment right to individual freedom of religion, including such issues as the right to hold or not to hold a religious faith, and the prohibition against the establishment of a religion by the government. Religious civil rights, on the other hand, cluster around the equal protection and due process clauses of the 14th amendment, which prohibit discrimination against individuals which deny them equal protection of the laws, equality of status under the law, equal treatment in the administration of justice, and equality of opportunity and access to employment, education, housing, public services and facilities, and public accommodations because of their exercise of their right to religious freedom."