Alfred Stepan on the “Twin Tolerations”

The key area of autonomy that must be established for democratic institutions is that the institutions that emanate from democratic procedures be able, within the bounds of the constitution and human rights, to generate policies. Religious institutions should not have constitutionally privileged prerogatives which allow them authoritatively to mandate public policy to democratically elected governments. The key area of autonomy, the other part of 'the twin tolerations,' from the government or even other religions that must be established for religious freedom is that individuals and religious communities, consistent with our core institutional definition of democracy, must have complete freedom to worship privately.