FACT’S David Fowler: Religious Liberty Executive Order “A Good First Step”

The Family Action Council of Tennessee is calling President Trump’s signing of a religious liberty executive order on Thursday “a good first step.”

But more is needed to shore up protections for people of faith, said FACT President David Fowler in a statement.

Fowler said the executive order “addresses in a limited way the Johnson Amendment that has been used by the IRS to intimidate conservative ministers, but we call on the president to provide the leadership Congress needs to repeal it.”

“We also join others in calling on the president to now take those additional steps necessary to fulfill the promise made during his campaign to fully protect religious liberty, particularly the liberty of those who believe in the sanctity of life and marriage,” Fowler said.

Trump received widespread support from evangelicals in the November 2016 election and many have followed this issue closely to make sure he follows through on his campaign promise.

In February, FACT joined with the Family Policy Alliance and its network of 40 state-based family policy councils in sending a letter to Trump asking him to reverse the tone set by the Obama administration.

“We write to request that you firmly reject the systemic bullying against individuals of faith, religious organizations, faith-based businesses, and churches that has been the hallmark of the former administration and liberal media,” the letter said.

Yes, Every Kid

“There can be no doubt that religious freedom is a casualty of the Obama administration,” the letter continued. “Under his ‘hallmark achievement’ (Obamacare) alone, the Obama administration attempted to: force Christian family-owned businesses like Hobby Lobby to pay for drugs and devices that can cause early abortions, force Christian charities like the Little Sisters of the Poor to include those same drugs in their healthcare plans, and contravene longstanding federal policy protecting Americans from being forced to fund abortions against their religious beliefs.”

 

Related posts

Comments