<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/BECKETlaw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BECKETlaw</a>'s second annual Religious Freedom Index found Americans think houses<br>of worship should be treated with at least the<br>same priority for reopening as businesses amid COVID restrictions: <a href="https://t.co/VGQDGCw4w0">https://t.co/VGQDGCw4w0</a> <a href="https://t.co/ETeusUIPiy">pic.twitter.com/ETeusUIPiy</a></p>— Kate Scanlon (@kgscanlon) <a href="https://twitter.com/kgscanlon/status/1329103999233110021?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
More than 4 out of 5 respondents who said faith was important also said religious organizations should play a role in advocating for racial equality and justice, but less than half of that group said their faith community is doing enough to respond to those issues.
The study also found that amid a turbulent year including the coronavirus pandemic, national protests about racial inequality after the death of George Floyd in police custody, and a presidential election, Americans' views on religious liberty have remained consistent through these challenges.
"Americans view faith as an essential, stabilizing force in the midst of a pandemic, and they want their elected officials to do a better job of protecting religious freedom," Luke Goodrich, senior counsel at Becket and co-editor of the index, said in a statement. "We will all be better off if our leaders and government officials respect the foundational value of religious freedom."
Caleb Lyman, director of research and analytics at Becket and co-editor of the index, said in a statement, "When Americans understand religion as a fundamental part of an individual's identity, it is no surprise that that they support strong religious freedom protections in work and public life."
"Respondents recognized that religion and people of faith can make unique contributions to the challenges faced this year," Lyman added.