Politics

‘Freedom Of Worship?’: Senator Upset About Wording On Citizenship Test

Alex Pappas Political Reporter
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A Republican senator is upset about the language used on the U.S. citizenship test to describe one’s right to practice their religion freely.

On Monday, Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford wrote a letter to Homeland Security secretary Jeh Johnson asking him to change the naturalization test so that the phrase “freedom of religion” is used instead of “freedom to worship.”

“The freedom of religion is much more than just the freedom of worship,” Lankford writes in his letter. “Worship confines you to a location. Freedom of religion is the right to exercise your religious beliefs – it is the ability for Americans to live out their faith or to choose to have no faith at all.”

Lankford writes in the letter that it is his “understanding that the answer choice ‘freedom of worship’ has been used since 2008, when [the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services] was advised that the word ‘worship’ was more inclusive than the word ‘religion.’”

Other conservatives have argued there is a significant difference between “worship” and “religion.”

“This incorrect view of religious liberty argues that faith should remain a private affair — relegated to personal activities or weekend worship services,” said Sarah Torre of The Heritage Foundation. “Step outside the four walls of a home or house of worship and robust protection of religious freedom ends.”

A spokesman for DHS did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment about the wording.

The First Amendment states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

“Our Constitution is clear – Americans have the freedom of religion. The naturalization test and its corresponding materials must be equally as clear,” Lankford said.

Passing the naturalization test is a requirement to becoming a citizen.

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