{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/57-2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/57-2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/57-2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/57-2.html"}],"law_id":370771,"edition_id":2,"section_id":370771,"structure_id":52797,"section_number":"57-2","catch_line":"Rights asserted therein reaffirmed","history":"Code 1919, \u00a7 35; 2016, c. 284.","full_text":"The General Assembly does hereby declare again that the rights asserted in \u00a7 57-1 are the natural and unalienable rights of mankind and this declaration is the policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1383222,"text":"The General Assembly does hereby declare again that the rights asserted in \u00a7 57-1 are the natural and unalienable rights of mankind and this declaration is the policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":52797,"edition_id":2,"name":"Religious Freedom","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":52796,"metadata":{"child_laws":5,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:05:57","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:46","permalink":{"id":1478505,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52797,"identifier":"1","token":"57\/1","url":"\/57\/1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52796,"edition_id":2,"name":"Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries","identifier":"57","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":123,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":105,"child_structures":18},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:05:57","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:35:46","permalink":{"id":1478503,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52796,"identifier":"57","token":"57","url":"\/57\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":370755,"structure_id":52797,"section_number":"57-1","catch_line":"Act for religious freedom recited","url":"\/57-1\/","token":"57\/1\/57-1","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"United States v. Moore","case_number":"No. 14-6870","citation":"585 F. App'x 13","date":"2014-10-20","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/8693028\/united-states-v-moore\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"1":{"name":"United States v. Bryan Ogle","case_number":"21-4043","citation":"82 F.4th 272","date":"2023-09-13","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9426361\/united-states-v-bryan-ogle\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. USCA4 Appeal: 21-4043      Doc: 44         Filed: 09\/13\/2023     Pg: 1 of 9 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"2":{"name":"Vlaming v. West Point School Board","case_number":"1211061","citation":null,"date":"2023-12-14","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9451980\/vlaming-v-west-point-school-board\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PRESENT: All the Justices .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"Roberts v. Roberts","case_number":"Record 000071","citation":"536 S.E.2d 714","date":"2000-11-03","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1059547\/roberts-v-roberts\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 536 S.E.2d 714 (2000) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"4":{"name":"Anthony Brian Barnett v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"0487203","citation":null,"date":"2021-04-06","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4871198\/anthony-brian-barnett-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"5":{"name":"Stoltz v. Commonwealth","case_number":"Record No. 181033","citation":"831 S.E.2d 164","date":"2019-08-01","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7480031\/stoltz-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Code \u00a7 18.2-374.3(C) (emphasis added). Stoltz argues that the phrase \"reason to believe,\" id. , .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"6":{"name":"Henry v. Commonwealth","case_number":"0246942","citation":"462 S.E.2d 578","date":"1995-10-10","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1068226\/henry-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. MOON, Chief Judge. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"7":{"name":"South v. Commonwealth","case_number":"2209041","citation":"623 S.E.2d 419","date":"2005-12-20","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1063333\/south-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. *250KELSEY, Judge. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"8":{"name":"Necaise v. Com.","case_number":"100157","citation":"708 S.E.2d 864","date":"2011-04-21","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058042\/necaise-v-com\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 708 S.E.2d 864 (2011) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"9":{"name":"Brandon Scott Blankenship v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"1455183","citation":null,"date":"2020-03-10","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4733875\/brandon-scott-blankenship-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":370771,"structure_id":52797,"section_number":"57-2","catch_line":"Rights asserted therein reaffirmed","url":"\/57-2\/","token":"57\/1\/57-2","metadata":false},{"id":370768,"structure_id":52797,"section_number":"57-2.01","catch_line":"Religious Freedom Week and Day","url":"\/57-2.01\/","token":"57\/1\/57-2.01","metadata":false},{"id":370769,"structure_id":52797,"section_number":"57-2.02","catch_line":"Religious freedom preserved; definitions; applicability; construction; remedies","url":"\/57-2.02\/","token":"57\/1\/57-2.02","metadata":false},{"id":370770,"structure_id":52797,"section_number":"57-2.1","catch_line":"Advertising by hotels, etc., that persons find objectionable because of religion; exemptions","url":"\/57-2.1\/","token":"57\/1\/57-2.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":370755,"structure_id":52797,"section_number":"57-1","catch_line":"Act for religious freedom recited","url":"\/57-1\/","token":"57\/1\/57-1","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"United States v. Moore","case_number":"No. 14-6870","citation":"585 F. App'x 13","date":"2014-10-20","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/8693028\/united-states-v-moore\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"1":{"name":"United States v. Bryan Ogle","case_number":"21-4043","citation":"82 F.4th 272","date":"2023-09-13","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9426361\/united-states-v-bryan-ogle\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. USCA4 Appeal: 21-4043      Doc: 44         Filed: 09\/13\/2023     Pg: 1 of 9 .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"2":{"name":"Vlaming v. West Point School Board","case_number":"1211061","citation":null,"date":"2023-12-14","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9451980\/vlaming-v-west-point-school-board\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PRESENT: All the Justices .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"Roberts v. Roberts","case_number":"Record 000071","citation":"536 S.E.2d 714","date":"2000-11-03","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1059547\/roberts-v-roberts\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 536 S.E.2d 714 (2000) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"4":{"name":"Anthony Brian Barnett v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"0487203","citation":null,"date":"2021-04-06","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4871198\/anthony-brian-barnett-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"5":{"name":"Stoltz v. Commonwealth","case_number":"Record No. 181033","citation":"831 S.E.2d 164","date":"2019-08-01","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7480031\/stoltz-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Code \u00a7 18.2-374.3(C) (emphasis added). Stoltz argues that the phrase \"reason to believe,\" id. , .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"6":{"name":"Henry v. Commonwealth","case_number":"0246942","citation":"462 S.E.2d 578","date":"1995-10-10","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1068226\/henry-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. MOON, Chief Judge. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"7":{"name":"South v. Commonwealth","case_number":"2209041","citation":"623 S.E.2d 419","date":"2005-12-20","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1063333\/south-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. *250KELSEY, Judge. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"8":{"name":"Necaise v. Com.","case_number":"100157","citation":"708 S.E.2d 864","date":"2011-04-21","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1058042\/necaise-v-com\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 708 S.E.2d 864 (2011) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"9":{"name":"Brandon Scott Blankenship v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"1455183","citation":null,"date":"2020-03-10","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4733875\/brandon-scott-blankenship-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"}}}},"next_section":{"id":370768,"structure_id":52797,"section_number":"57-2.01","catch_line":"Religious Freedom Week and Day","url":"\/57-2.01\/","token":"57\/1\/57-2.01","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/57-2\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2016, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?161+ful+CHAP0284\">284<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":370755,"section_number":"57-1","catch_line":"Act for religious freedom recited","order_by":null,"url":"\/57-1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1478511,"object_type":"law","relational_id":370771,"identifier":"57-2","token":"57\/1\/57-2","url":"\/57-2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/57-2\/","token":"57\/1\/57-2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Rights asserted therein reaffirmed","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 57-2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>The General Assembly does hereby declare again that the rights asserted in \u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Act for religious freedom recited\" href=\"\/57-1\/\">57-1<\/a> are the natural and unalienable rights of mankind and this declaration is the policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nRIGHTS ASSERTED THEREIN REAFFIRMED (\u00a7 57-2)\n\nThe General Assembly does hereby declare again that the rights asserted in \u00a7\n57-1 are the natural and unalienable rights of mankind and this declaration is\nthe policy of the Commonwealth of Virginia.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1919, \u00a7 35; 2016, c. 284.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}