“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” – 2 Corinthians 3:17
Just one year ago, New Mexico ranked 11th in the nation for protecting religious liberty. Today, we’ve fallen to 26th place, with only 37% of key legal safeguards in place. That is according to the 2025 Religious Liberty in the States (RLS) Index, which measures how well each state protects freedom of faith in daily life.
This sharp decline should alarm every New Mexican, regardless of political or religious affiliation. Religious liberty is not a partisan issue. It is the foundation of our ability to live according to conscience, raise our families by our values, and worship freely without fear of government intrusion.
This year, the RLS Index expanded from 39 to 47 safeguards. The additions go beyond simple policy – they touch every corner of life: protecting conscience rights in healthcare, ensuring accommodations in schools and workplaces, and safeguarding the vital role of faith-based charities and institutions. States like Florida and Montana rose in the rankings because they acted boldly to strengthen religious freedom. New Mexico, by contrast, failed to move forward.
Our laws have remained stagnant while other states innovate. The result? We slipped from being a leader in religious liberty to just another middle-of-the-pack state.
New Mexico is a state shaped by faith, from Pueblo and Hispanic traditions rooted for centuries, to churches, ministries, and faith-based nonprofits serving today. But without stronger legal safeguards, this rich legacy is vulnerable.
- Healthcare providers risk being forced to choose between their conscience and their career.
- Parents and students may lose meaningful opt-outs from classroom mandates that contradict their beliefs.
- Faith-based charities could face exclusion or litigation simply for living out their convictions.
If we care about protecting this bedrock freedom, we must demand more from our leaders.
- Lawmakers should pass legislation that expands protections across healthcare, education, and public life.
- Faith leaders and citizens must raise their voices. Silence allows neglect; action safeguards freedom.
- Communities should study the models of states like Florida, which rose to the top by enacting comprehensive protections.
“Religious liberty is not just about the right to worship on Sunday – it’s about the freedom to live out your faith in every area of life.”
New Mexico’s decline from 11th to 26th place in just twelve months is not a minor slip – it is a wake-up call. Religious liberty erodes not in dramatic moments, but in quiet neglect. If we value freedom of faith, the time to act is now. We cannot afford complacency. The stakes are too high for us, for our children, and for the generations to come.
Let us recommit to ensuring that New Mexico is not a state where faith is merely tolerated, but one where it is truly protected and cherished.
“Stand firm, then, in the freedom with which Christ has set us free.” – Galatians 5:1
Nickie McCarty is the State Director for Concerned Women for America of New Mexico. She is also a former educator and athletic director.
