Trump Establishes Religious Liberty Commission

President Donald Trump has kept a campaign promise to establish a commission to fight infringements on religious liberty. On Thursday, he signed an executive order establishing the Religious Liberty Commission.

“The Founders envisioned a Nation in which religious voices and views are integral to a vibrant public square and human flourishing and in which religious people and institutions are free to practice their faith without fear of discrimination or hostility from the Government,” says the executive order.

The members will “offer diverse perspectives on how the Federal Government can defend religious liberty for all Americans” and produce a report on the current state of religious liberty in America.

It appears the commission will not back away from hot button issues where Christians currently experience repression from liberal, secular states. “Key focus areas include parental rights in religious education, school choice, conscience protections, attacks on houses of worship, free speech for religious entities, and institutional autonomy,” said a White House fact sheet that accompanied the announcement.

The committee will be chaired by Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (R) and co-chaired by former brain surgeon and former Trump Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Ben Carson. Its members include:

• Ryan Anderson, the president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center and author of “When Harry Became Sally,” a groundbreaking book on the transgender phenomenon that was at times banished from Amazon.
• Bishop Robert Barron, Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota.
• Carrie Prejean Boller, a former Miss California who made waves at the 2009 Miss USA pageant for defending traditional marriage.
• Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Roman Catholic archbishop of New York.
• Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the relief organization Samaritan’s Purse.
• Allyson Ho, an attorney at Gibson, Dunn, & Crutcher.
• Talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw.
• Eric Metaxas, a bestselling author and host of a syndicated talk show and host of a show on TBN.
• Kelly Shackelford, president and CEO of First Liberty Institute, which defends religious liberty.
• Rabbi Meir Soloveichik of Congregation Shearith Israel, who frequently fights for religious liberty alongside Christians and members of other faiths.
• Paula White, the president’s faith adviser.

The actions came as the president celebrated the National Day of Prayer, which falls each year on the first Thursday in May. “From the earliest days of our Nation’s journey, America has been guided by the grace of Almighty God,” says his presidential proclamation. “This National Day of Prayer, we thank God for His endless blessings — and we ask Him to grant us fortitude, wisdom, and a renewed spirit of justice as we continue the work to save our country and restore our national promise.”

AUTHOR

Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson is senior reporter and editor at The Washington Stand.

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