Throughout the 2016 presidential campaign, President Trump made a concerted effort to reach out to religious leaders across the country. Then-candidate Trump made a commitment to protecting religious liberty in a sharp break from the Obama administration, and pledged as president to allow all Americans to practice their faith without government interference.
On Thursday, President Trump fulfilled that campaign promise, signing an executive order on religious liberty, confirming his commitment to protecting faith in America.
President Trump to sign an executive order on religious liberty today, the National Day of Prayer | @kevincorke pic.twitter.com/p5FA8j4qAs
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) May 4, 2017
The order is designed to prohibit the government from forcing non-profit organizations to provide certain types of procedures and drugs related to abortion.
Here is what a Senior WH Official says the new Religious Liberty Executive Order (signed Thursday) will do: pic.twitter.com/2BH4DN6OwD
— Fin Gomez (@finnygo) May 4, 2017
From Fox News:
The three main points of the executive order, according to a senior White House official, will declare “that it is the policy of the administration to protect and vigorously promote religious liberty,” direct the IRS “to exercise maxim enforcement of discretion to alleviate the burden of the Johnson Amendment,” and provide “regulatory relief for religious objectors to Obamacare’s burdensome preventive services mandate.”
…Trump previously campaigned against the amendment, and in February said he would “destroy” the amendment that conservative groups claim restricted political speech by tax-exempt churches.
White House sources also say the order will protect religious organizations, such as the Little Sisters of the Poor, and free them from being forced to provide things that conflict with their Christian faith.
Unsurprisingly, the left is attacking the order, saying it will allow for discrimination against members of the LGBT community, but the White House points out that nothing in federal law has changed, and “Everything that is legal stays legal, everything that is illegal stays illegal.”
Here’s video of President Trump talking about religious liberty at the National Prayer Breakfast:
Religious Americans should not be afraid to practice their faith in this country for fear of prosecution. The days of the war against Christians is over.
This Executive Order reaffirms that President Trump is sincere when he speaks about the importance of faith in America and has signaled he will go to bat and defend the right of every American to practice their faith, without fear.
Are you supportive of President Trump’s religious liberty executive order? Share your thoughts below!