President Donald Trump made good on his campaign promise to prioritize religious freedom in his second term by officially launching the Religious Liberty Commission.
On Monday, the group held its first meeting at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.
Timothy Goeglein, Focus on the Family’s vice president of external affairs, attended the morning gathering.
“We at Focus on the Family were so honored to be part of this first presidential hearing on religious liberty, and the matrix of scholars, attorneys, public officials, and first amendment experts was a powerful testament to the foundational importance of the right of conscience in the 21st century American public square,” reflected Goeglein.
According to the White House, the commission will “safeguard and promote America’s founding principle of religious freedom.”
The newly formed entity comes in the wake of a litany of anti-Christian actions punishing a broad spectrum of believers over the course of the last four years.
Attorney General Pam Bondi joined the meeting and spoke on “the importance of faith to American success.”
Paulette Harlow, age 75, was sentenced to 24 months in jail for participating in a pro-life blockade at an abortion clinic. Paulette’s 74-year-old sister, and others, were also sent to jail. Shortly after getting into office, President Trump pardoned both Paulette and Heather, along with other pro-lifers. Meanwhile, at the same time these pro-lifers were being arrested and locked up, countless attacks on pregnancy health clinics around the country were being ignored or swept away.
Predictably, critics of any public expression of faith are decrying the establishment of the commission. In a press release lambasting the group’s first meeting, Americans United for Separation of Church State pulled out the tired and baseless bogeyman accusation that the group is comprised of so-called Christian Nationalists.”
Radicals reflexively suggest that any socially conservative Christians involved in politics today are “Christian Nationalists,” i.e. those whose faith in God is fused with love of country in idolatrous fashion. In reality, Christians should be actively involved in the political arena – and do so in ways that honor God and His Word, and love (not destroy) our fellow man.
Speaking earlier this year in announcing the commission, President Trump suggested true happiness wasn’t possible without faith. “Let’s bring God back into our lives,” he said.
Solidifying the constitutional right to religious liberty is a good place to start.
Reflected Tim Goeglein, “James Madison, the primary author of our Constitution, said ‘Conscience is the most sacred of all property.’ Sacred indeed.”
Daily Citizen is a news division of Focus on the Family that provides a faith-based perspective to counter the mainstream media’s anti-Christian bias.
