…the Baha'i Faith upholds the freedom of conscience which
permits a person to follow his chosen religion: no one may be compelled to
become a Baha'i, or to remain a Baha'i if he conscientiously wishes to leave
the Faith. As to the thoughts of the Baha'is themselves -- that is those who
have chosen to follow the religion of Baha'u'llah -- the institutions do not
busy themselves with what individual believers think unless those thoughts
become expressed in actions which are inimical to the basic principles and
vital interests of the Faith. (From a letter dated 8 February 1998 written on
behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)
