David Ralston, speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives, writes today that his objective in proposing his Pastor's Protection bill in the next legislative session is to reassure the faith community that the separation of church and state will remain a pillar of Georgia’s values, even though that protection is provided in the the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. In our second column, a UGA scholar says Ralston’s legislation is not unusual or legally necessary, but beware other religious liberty bills that are bound to beat a path to the General Assembly’s door next year.

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A military band plays in front of a large British flag shown on an electronic display on the second day of the Royal Ascot horse race meeting at Ascot, England, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (Alberto Pezzali/AP)

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“Our members cannot be bought off,” General President Sean O’Brien said in a social media statement, calling UPS' offers “illegal and haphazard.” (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2023)

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