Religious Liberty, Conscience Rights, and Federal Power: A Conversation with Rachel Morrison

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] this thought-provoking episode of Faithful Politics, hosts Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram tackle the timely and contentious intersections of religious liberty and government regulation. Joining them is Rachel Morrison, an attorney and fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, whose expertise sheds light on how recent federal policies and Supreme Court decisions are impacting religious freedoms in healthcare, employment, and beyond.This episode dives into questions that resonate deeply in today’s polarized environment: What protections do healthcare professionals have if they object to certain procedures on moral or religious grounds? How does the recent Supreme Court Loper-Bright decision shift the power dynamics between government agencies and individuals? And, perhaps most importantly, what do these issues mean for the future of faith-based decision-making in a rapidly changing legal landscape?Morrison breaks down the implications of the Loper-Bright decision, explaining how it puts religious liberty on more stable footing by limiting the power of federal agencies to interpret laws in ways that might disregard religious or moral objections. The hosts and Morrison then explore real-world scenarios—such as COVID-19 mandates and the rise of gender-identity policies under the current administration—that illustrate how these legal shifts could play out in healthcare and workplace settings.Guest Bio:Rachel N. Morrison is a Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, leading EPPC’s HHS Accountability Project. An attorney specializing in religious liberty, healthcare conscience rights, life issues, and civil rights, she previously served as an Attorney Advisor at the EEOC, focusing on religious discrimination, and held roles at Americans United for Life and the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. Ms. Morrison’s work has appeared in prominent law reviews and media outlets. She earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from Pepperdine University School of Law and her B.A., summa cum laude, from Whitworth University. She is a member of the D.C. and Washington State bars.Support the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:https://www.patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPolitics📩 Reach out to us:Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Host, Will Wright: [email protected]📱 Follow & connect with us:Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitikInstagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcastLinkedIn: faithfulpolitics📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com