My take away from the author seems different than most here but here we go ....
Peter Stockland writes to further his religious beliefs and equates "freedom" with the pre-eminence of religion over state.  He quotes a theology friend "the freedoms of religion and conscience are and must be the first freedoms to which all others are bound."  Whoa there mister!  Conscience yes, but after that we are supposed to have an overriding principle of the separation of church and state in our modern country and for darn good reasons too.  Organized religions, as presided over by their 'leaders' and allies have too often been the creators and users of oppression, subjugation, and many of the wars over the past two thousand years. Today they continue to provide the tools of propaganda for whomever wields power, be that a vice president, an ayatollah, or the power blocs behind them.  I can't speak for their reasons but the citizens VOTED.  It seems Peter prefers religious groups have the final say.