I believe we are in a fight for the heart and soul of our country. Future Supreme Court decisions will determine the outcome of many of these battles and all of us are going to be affected. Much has been said recently about Justice Antonin Scalia and how his death will impact the future of the Supreme Court. Count me among those who will dearly miss his reason, wit and adherence to the original meaning of the Constitution.

Regardless of who replaces him, his absence will have both long-term and short-term consequences. Those short-term consequences include the outcomes of cases that the now-eight-member court is hearing this term, including a critical religious freedom case the court will hear on March 23 and which every American should understand.