U.S. states lag in religious freedom protections; 75% score under 50% in Napa Legal’s 2025 Index. Alabama leads at 86%, Michigan last at 22%.
Newsroom (31/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) A comprehensive national study reveals stark deficiencies in state-level safeguards for religious liberty, with nearly three-quarters of U.S. states scoring below 50 percent in protecting the operational autonomy of faith-based nonprofits.
The Napa Legal Institute’s 2025 Faith and Freedom Index, released October 27, evaluated all 50 states and the District of Columbia on their legal and policy frameworks for religious nonprofits. The results expose a widening gap between America’s constitutional commitment to religious freedom and its practical application at the state level.
Alabama topped the rankings with an 86 percent score, lauded for constitutional amendments and statutes that explicitly shield religious autonomy and ensure equal access to public programs. Kansas followed at 79 percent. In contrast, Michigan ranked dead last at 22 percent, cited as one of the nation’s most restrictive environments for faith-based organizations.
Six states—Michigan, Delaware, Washington, Maryland, Nevada, and Hawaii—scored below 30 percent. Another 19 states and the District of Columbia failed to reach 40 percent. Only Alabama and Kansas surpassed 70 percent.
The index measures five key areas: equal access to public funding, exemptions from anti-discrimination laws for faith-based employers, statutory or constitutional protections exceeding First Amendment guarantees, emergency response policies, and the lingering impact of 19th-century “Blaine Amendments” that restrict public funding for religious institutions.
Low-scoring states often impose significant barriers. Michigan offers no exemptions for religious employers under state antidiscrimination laws and limits their eligibility for public grants. Maryland subjects religious charities to burdensome audits to retain tax-exempt status. Washington and Delaware provide unequal access to public programs.
“These policies risk marginalizing religious institutions and reducing services for vulnerable populations,” the report states.
The findings echo challenges exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when lockdown measures disproportionately restricted worship services, spotlighting tensions between public health and religious practice.
Yet the index also identifies progress. Mississippi and Georgia, both scoring 67 percent, have balanced civil rights and religious conscience through targeted reforms. Florida also earned recognition for supportive policies.
Even high-performing states face hurdles. Alabama, despite its strong framework, contends with residual Blaine Amendment restrictions.
Napa Legal emphasizes that robust religious freedom protections benefit society by enabling faith-based groups to deliver education, healthcare, and social services without compromising their beliefs.
“Protecting faith-based work requires public policy that welcomes, rather than sidelines, the role of religion in civic life,” the report concludes.
As debates intensify over conscience rights, civil rights expansions, and the scope of religious exemptions, the index underscores a critical reality: for many faith-based organizations, the freedom to serve according to conviction increasingly depends on state-level politics and priorities.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Zenit News
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