Letter to the editor: Freedom of Religion

Two hundred and forty years ago, on January 16, 1786, the Virginia General Assembly adopted Thomas Jefferson's groundbreaking Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. This pivotal law disestablished the state church, declaring that no one should be compelled to support any religious denomination or face discrimination for his beliefs. It became the blueprint for the First Amendment, ensuring that Americans could follow the dictates of their consciences without government interference. James Ma