Comment Section for Opinion | Texas Has a Perverse Idea of Religious Freedom - The New York Times

This New York Times opinion piece by David French criticizes Texas' handling of religious freedom issues, particularly with regard to immigration. The article focuses on a recent case where Texas has targeted Annunciation House, a Catholic nonprofit that provides assistance to migrants. Texas authorities suspect the house of "harboring" undocumented immigrants and have demanded access to its records, threatening to terminate its right to operate in the state if it fails to comply. Annunciation House disputes these claims, explaining that they are in regular contact with federal immigration officials and are primarily serving documented individuals who have been processed by federal authorities. French argues that Texas, and specifically its Attorney General Ken Paxton, is attempting to infringe on Annunciation House's religious freedom. Paxton's assertion is that because Annunciation House does not regularly offer religious services, it does not qualify for protections under the state's religious freedom laws. French pushes back against this, highlighting the importance of service to the poor and marginalized in religious expression and criticizing the state's involvement in determining the validity of religious practice. The article also discusses the political and legal debates surrounding this issue, with conservative legal groups offering differing views. French concludes by defending the importance of religious freedom and criticizing the state's harsh approach to immigration enforcement. He also emphasizes the crucial role that organizations like Annunciation House play in supporting vulnerable migrant communities.