Freedom of religion is a principle that is central to our Nation's Declaration of Independence. Congress has taken this positive step to protect our freedom to express allegiance to America's flag and the ideals it represents.

I am known for a life spent in the struggle for freedom and freedom includes the freedom of religion.

I think we recognize as Americans there are certain things that are just primary to the freedoms and liberties that we enjoy here and religious freedom is one of the most important things we as Americans cherish.

To criticize a person for their race is manifestly irrational and ridiculous but to criticize their religion that is a right. That is a freedom.

The First Amendment freedom of religion is as important today as when the Bill of Rights was first written.

We in the United States should be all the more thankful for the freedom and religious tolerance we enjoy. And we should always remember the lessons learned from the Holocaust in hopes we stay vigilant against such inhumanity now and in the future.

There are lots of people out there who think they know the truth about God and religion but does anybody really know for sure? That's why the founding fathers built freedom of religious belief into the structure of this nation so that everybody could make up their minds for themselves.

The State is the altar of political freedom and like the religious altar it is maintained for the purpose of human sacrifice.

The Jewish festival of freedom is the oldest continuously observed religious ritual in the world. Across the centuries Passover has never lost its power to inspire the imagination of successive generations of Jews with its annually re-enacted drama of slavery and liberation.

Those religions that are oppressive to women are also against democracy human rights and freedom of expression.

Freedom of speech freedom of the press and freedom of religion all have a double aspect - freedom of thought and freedom of action.

Justice is never given it is exacted and the struggle must be continuous for freedom is never a final fact but a continuing evolving process to higher and higher levels of human social economic political and religious relationship.

President Obama orders religious organizations to violate their conscience. I will defend religious liberty and overturn regulations that trample on our first freedom.

Since Castro took power the Cuban people have been denied basic human freedoms. No freedom of religion no freedom of the press no political freedom. And the regime uses brutality and violence to suppress these freedoms and impose its will.

And let me make this very clear - unlike President Obama I will not raise taxes on the middle class. As president I will protect the sanctity of life. I will honor the institution of marriage. And I will guarantee America's first liberty: the freedom of religion.

Religious freedom opens a door for Americans that is closed to too many others around the world. But whether we walk through that door and what we do with our lives after we do is up to us.

Ultimately America's answer to the intolerant man is diversity the very diversity which our heritage of religious freedom has inspired.

I believe in a religion that believes in freedom. Any time I have to accept a religion that won't let me fight a battle for my people I say to hell with that religion.

Religious liberty is the first freedom in our Constitution. And whether the cause is justice for the persecuted compassion for the needy and the sick or mercy for the child waiting to be born there is no greater force for good in the nation than Christian conscience in action.

The framers of our Constitution meant we were to have freedom of religion not freedom from religion.

Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.

One important theme is the extent to which one can ever correct an error especially outside any frame of religious forgiveness. All of us have done something we regret - how we manage to remove that from our conscience or whether that's even possible interested me.

All major religious traditions carry basically the same message that is love compassion and forgiveness the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.

We believe that God is big enough to give every nationality their own religion as he's given them their own taste in food in plants in furniture and housing. I think that each religion has their basic Christ-ish way to get to the Everlasting God.