US President Donald Trump has announced the creation of a task force aimed at eradicating what is known as “anti-Christian bias” within the federal government.
Trump made the presentation at the National Prayer Breakfast held in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.
In his speech, Trump said he would sign the executive order later that day and appoint U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondy to lead the effort.
He also pointed to several government agencies that could be scrutinized under efforts, including the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
“The task force’s mission is to immediately retain all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government, including the DOJ.
Bondi said he “works to “fully prosecute anti-Christian violence and vandalism in our society, and to move heaven and earth to defend the rights of Christians and religious followers across the country.”
While Trump did not provide examples of what constituted “anti-Christian bias,” planned enforcement actions could raise constitutional questions about the separation of churches and states.
Under the First Amendment to the US Constitution, governments protect religious freedom.
Legal experts say that the “establishment clause” of that amendment, which states that Congress “should not enact laws respect the establishment of religion,” as prohibits governments from impose or promote religious beliefs. “Something is often pointed out.
However, some evangelical advocates argue that Christianity is a fundamental part of the US government system. Trump courted the interest group through the president’s campaign.
On Thursday, Trump urged Americans to “reclaim God.” In addition to the new task force, he also announced the establishment of a committee on religious freedom.
“Without religious freedom, there is no free country,” Trump said.
He also looked back on his relationship with religion after facing a failed assassination attempt last year, saying it “changed” him.
“I feel even stronger,” said Trump, a non-denominational Christian. “I believed in God, but I feel like I feel more strongly about it. Something has happened.”
Speaking later at a second prayer breakfast sponsored by a private group, Trump said, “It was God who saved me.”
He also targeted his predecessor, Democrat President Joe Biden, and accused him of “persecution” of prosecution against opposing rights advocates accused of blockadeing reproductive health clinics of his administration of blockade. did.
Trump’s new task force on “anti-Christian bias” has already attracted criticism.
“As opposed to protect religious beliefs, this task force will misuse religious freedom to justify bias, discrimination and overthrow of our civil rights law,” he said. Rachel Laser said that Americans united to the group.
Andrew Seidel, a lawyer for the Freedom From Religion Foundation, also questioned the motivation behind the new task force.
“This task force is not a response to Christian persecution. He wrote in X’s post.
“Christians are still a majority in this country. They are overrepresented in Congress and almost every other governmental body. But the demographics are changing. So fast. And that’s exactly what we are saying. That’s why we’re seeing this rise of Christian nationalism.”
President Trump and his administration are already in conflict with certain religious leaders. For example, the day after his second inauguration, Trump attended a sermon given by the Rev. Marian Bud of Washington National Cathedral, where he “mercy” was held to members of the LGBTQ+ community and undocumented immigrants. I asked for this.
Trump then responded about his online platform, True Social, calling Badde “a radical left hardline Trump hate.”
Catholic Vice President J.D. Vance has also refrained from immigration issues with the highest American leaders of his own church. Other clergy members across the country have expressed concern about the removal of churches from a list of previously protected locations from immigration enforcement measures.
Thursday’s prayer breakfast is a 70-year-old tradition in Washington, DC. Dwight de Eisenhower was the first president to attend a prayer breakfast in 1953, and since then all presidents have spoken at the gatherings.
Source link
