While there have been many controversies as some religious groups have been offended by the manner in which free speech has been utilized, he explained that religious freedom itself depended on protection of speech, even speech, which some groups may view as hateful or blasphemous.
"Religious groups should remember that the very power that protects them today can be used against them tomorrow," said Haynes. "What is blasphemous to one group is sacred to another; we don't want the government deciding which it is."
What exactly is considered blasphemy can vary between religious groups and people, which may be why 43 percent of Americans do not think people should say things in public that might be viewed as offensive, said Haynes. Additionally, Haynes said 40 percent of Americans believe the press has too much freedom.
This may be one of the reasons the controversial issue of religion is largely under-reported, as journalists try to maintain a delicate balance between being respectful of religious beliefs and differences, and upholding their ethical duty to report the truth.
While religion may have been largely ignored in the past, incidents such as sexual abuse by Catholic clergy and the attention to Islam after Sept. 11 have led journalists to cover issues of religion that may be controversial.
"Newspapers have come to the conclusion that religious institutions are big enough players in our lives that they deserve the same scrutiny we give to other institutions," said Michael Paulson, a religion reporter for The Boston Globe.
Haynes also discussed this, saying that the idea of separation of church and state has evolved so that religion in the press seems to be a generally taboo subject, and therefore one that is ignored, despite its impact on the lives of individuals.
"It's as though we have a secular lens we interpret all news with, but people of religious faiths have a lot to say about these topics," said Haynes.
Spring Break
