{{Infobox Organization ,
name = North American Religious Liberty Association ,
image = ,
caption = North American Religious Liberty Association Logo ,
language = English ,
headquarters =
Washington, DC
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan ...
,
formation = 1897 ,
website www.religiousliberty.info
The North American Religious Liberty Association (NARLA) is a regional chapter of the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA). The IRLA was founded in 1893 and now has over 50 national and regional chapters around the world.
NARLA is the rebirth of the American Religious Liberty Association (ARLA) formed in the late 19th century by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
NARLA's focus is on matters pertaining to freedom of conscience. This includes supporting a broad interpretation of the
First Amendment
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement
Arts and media Music
* 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and reco ...
's guarantee of free exercise of religion and laws protecting religious freedom, supporting laws to advance religious liberty, and supporting the principle that religion must not be co-opted by the state through regulation or through financial entanglements.
Additionally, NARLA is associated with
Liberty Magazine
Liberty magazine may refer to:
* ''Liberty'' (1881–1908), a political magazine published from 1881 to 1908 by Benjamin Tucker
* ''Liberty'' (general interest magazine), published from 1924 to 1950
* ''Liberty'' (libertarian magazine), publis ...
, a publication with a circulation of roughly 200,000, and with the radio broadcasts Freedom's Ring which is syndicated across the U.S., and Talking About Freedom, which is broadcast in the Washington, D.C., region.
Melissa Reid is the Executive Director of NARLA.
In addition to its lobbying efforts, NARLA and Liberty Magazine host an annual non-partisan dinner in Washington DC. Past speakers from include Senator
Rick Santorum
Richard John Santorum ( ; born May 10, 1958) is an American politician, attorney, and political commentator. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a United States Senator from Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2007 and was the Senate's third ...
(2004), Senator
Hillary Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, diplomat, and former lawyer who served as the 67th United States Secretary of State for President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, as a United States sen ...
Religious freedom
Freedom of religion or religious liberty is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance. It also includes the freedom ...