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The state cannot force anyone to deny their moral or religious beliefs. Obviously you have never seen the state in action. Under American law, a belief that is contrary to public policy can be held only so long as it is not translated into action. Let me give you an example on a petty matter. Hence, a public school teacher CAN lose her job if she chooses to read the Bible at her desk even if no students are present in the classroom. This is not true everywhere; the pernicious thing is that her action can, however, become illegal if the school has a well-established policy, wishes to pursue the issue, and the teachers is foolish enough to disobey. Ther right of a public school to set policy normally trumps religious liberty. In the world of "ordered liberty," religious liberty occupies a lower position than many other liberties.

The state cannot force anyone to deny their moral or religious beliefs.

Obviously you have never seen the state in action. Under American law, a belief that is contrary to public policy can be held only so long as it is not translated into action.

Let me give a better hypothetical example. Suppose Prohibition had somehow passed without an exemption for liturgical use. A priest in America, any Catholic, would have the right to "believe" that wine could be changed into Precious Blood during a Mass, but would be prohibited from actually having a Mass.

Obviously you have never seen the state in action. Under American law, a belief that is contrary to public policy can be held only so long as it is not translated into action. Let me give you an example on a petty matter. Hence, a public school teacher CAN lose her job if she chooses to read the Bible at her desk even if no students are present in the classroom. This is not true everywhere; the pernicious thing is that her action can, however, become illegal if the school has a well-established policy, wishes to pursue the issue, and the teachers is foolish enough to disobey. Ther right of a public school to set policy normally trumps religious liberty. In the world of "ordered liberty," religious liberty occupies a lower position than many other liberties.

I repeat again: the state cannot force anyone to violate his or her religious beliefs. Our freedom of conscience is an inalienable right, part and parcel with our free will.

Now, that being said, THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU MAY NOT FACE CONSEQUENCES FOR ADHERING TO YOUR CONVICTIONS. Consider the case of Thomas More. The state may pressure you, but they cannot coerce you. They can only persecute you and/or kill you. If you give in to the pressure, you are making a free will choice. If you, like More, stand up to the pressure, you make a free will choice. The question is, are you prepared to suffer persecution for your beliefs?