Church Leaders React to Trump’s Religious Liberty Executive Order
by Chelsen Vicari, Juicy Ecumenism:
President Donald Trump’s signing of an executive order on religious freedom, in conjunction with the National Day of Prayer, has provoked many different reactions from church leaders across denominational affiliations.
“For too long the government has used the power of the state against people of faith. Bullying and even punishing Americans for following their religious beliefs,” said President Trump during the Rose Garden Ceremony and signing on Thursday. The ceremony was attended by some members of his Evangelical Advisory Board and other religious leaders, as reported by Fox News and pictured above. “It’s been happening. That is why I am signing today an executive order to defend the freedom of religion and speech in America.”
The content of the executive order, titled “Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty,” promises the executive branch will “honor and enforce” religious freedom, consider amended regulations to the Department of Health and Human Services’ contraceptive mandate, and the Secretary of the Treasury “not take any adverse action against any individual, house of worship, or other religious organization” on the basis of moral and political speech, among other things.
Some church leaders are commending the president’s executive order as a win for free speech and religious liberty, while others say it falls short.
Here is a non-comprehensive listing of responses from notable representatives of Christian denominations, organizations, and scholars.
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