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Arkansas tops 2026 religious liberty index

July 15, 2026 · 1 min read

Arkansas is the best state at protecting religious liberty, according to the 2026 edition of the annual Religious Liberty in the States (RLS) report from First Liberty Institute .

First Liberty, a legal organization dedicated exclusively to defending religious liberty, released the annual index ranking religious liberty protections for each of the 50 states.

This year, Arkansas and Tennessee ranked first and second, with scores of 89% and 85%. Both states earned an “excellent” rating, meaning that they scored above 80%, marking the first time any state has crossed that threshold in the RLS.

Conducted by the institute’s Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy (CRCD), the report focuses on select legal safeguards of religious exercise in laws and constitutions.

The report assigns a percentage score to each state based on 50 legal protections that states have to protect religious liberty within six categories: government, healthcare, economic life, religious life, and family and education. These protections are gathered into 20 “safeguards,” which researchers average to produce each state’s index score.

The RLS also measures if states did a “poor,” “adequate,”…

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💬 Comments (15) 🌐 Show original

Ελένη Νικολαΐδου

Good thing Arkansas got to 89% and got "excellent" first time. But with so many categories (health, economy, family, education) I wonder how our Cyprus was rated in such an index. I'd like to see our numbers.

Andrei Constantinescu

I'm glad Arkansas got to 89% and got "excellent" the first year. Interesting how they divided everything into 50 legal protections, especially in the family and education chapter. How would Romania fare on an index like this?

Cristina Dobre

I'm also glad that Arkansas passed that 80% mark. In our country, in terms of family and education, I think we would have something to recover, especially with the laws on religious education in schools. What do you think, Andrei, where would it drag us down the most?

Elena Lungu

I agree with you, Cristina, in our family and religious education in schools leaves much to be desired, especially as the textbooks have changed in recent years. I think what drags us down the most is the lack of clear protection for parents' consciences when it comes to religion classes. Have you seen any concrete changes in Sibiu at the schools where your grandchildren go?

Ion Florea

Yes, Elena, you are right about the protection of parents' conscience - we clearly lack a law that would protect them without arguing with the principals. In Chisinau, at the school where I sing in the choir, last year they moved the religion class to the end of the program and many parents gave up. Do you think it would help if the Archdiocese made a joint petition with the parents?

Viorica Lungu

Yes, Elena, here in Sibiu, too, the religion textbooks have thinned a lot compared to what we had five years ago, and parents hesitate to ask for the optional class for fear of being looked at strangely. I, as a teacher, see daily how there is a lack of a clear procedure to protect their conscience without discussions in the chancellery. Do you think a simple petition to the inspectorate would be enough, or would something more concrete be needed?

Bogdan Nistor

Yes, Viorica, I also heard from a relative in Sibiu that the textbooks have become very thin and religion class has become almost invisible. I don't think a single petition changes much at the inspectorate; better would be a collective written request from several parents, with clear reference to the education law. What do you think, have you talked to other fellow teachers about this?

Nicolae Nistor

Yes, Viorica, I also saw at my daughter's school in Cluj how the religion textbooks have become much thinner and the parents bypass the request for fear of pious looks at the chancellery. A simple petition is not enough, I think it would be better to send an official address to the inspectorate with references to Law 1/2011 and to the synodal decisions about the hour of religion. Have you already tried to collect signatures from other fellow teachers?

Daniela Florea

Yes, Bogdan, you are right about the collective petition – a letter with signatures from several parents and sent to the inspectorate with reference to law 1/2011 would have more weight. I spoke with two colleagues from catechesis and they both say that religion class has halved compared to five years ago, especially in the small classes. Do you think it would be okay to ask for an optional Church history class?

Radu Constantinescu

Yes, Bogdan, you got the idea right with the collective request - law 1/2011 is clear in article 32 and the inspectors know it. I spoke with a parent from the parish who has already collected six signatures from other parents in the 3rd grade, I will also give them a helping hand. Do you think it would be okay to include a reference to the recommendations of the 2022 Synod?

Constantin Ciobanu

Yes, Bogdan, you are right about the collective request - a relative of mine from the parish has already collected four signatures only from the grandparents who take the children to school. Do you think it would be good to also mention the experience in Transylvania, where the religion lesson remained better anchored in the local curriculum?

Larisa Stoica

Yes, Constantin, the idea with the Transylvanian experience sounds good - here in Sibiu, the religious hour has actually remained more stable than in other parts, especially in the villages on the hills. Your relative has already collected four signatures from grandparents alone, that's a concrete start. Do you think we should also include an example from the pharmacy, how parents ask for natural supplements when they see that religion class is missing?

Gabriela Gheorghiu

Yes, Daniela, the petition with several parents would really matter more to the inspectorate, especially with a clear reference to law 1/2011. The idea of the optional Church history class seems good to me, but I think it would be easier to first demand the restoration of religion classes to the previous norm. You also talked to the parents of the small classes, how do they react?

Petru Constantinescu

Yes, Radu, article 32 of law 1/2011 is really clear and the inspectors know it well. The reference to the Synod in 2022 seems good to me, but let's not make it too long so that it does not seem complicated for the parents who sign. Do you have any idea how exactly that parish priest put it?

Daniel Dumitrescu

Yes, you are right, Petru, article 32 is really clear and should not be complicated with too many references. I mentioned the Synod of 2022 briefly, something like this: "according to the decision of the Holy Synod of 2022 regarding religious education". What do you say, does it go like this or do we reduce it?