The religious liberty commission report is still being drafted, but members are already signaling priorities. In an April meeting, commissioners shared demands with little visible dissent. The panel formed last year by President Donald Trump includes many figures tied to conservative Christian politics. Their comments sketched a religious freedom panel report that leans toward wider public recognition of faith claims. And they framed the coming commission’s final report as a tool for federal action.
Awards, Lawsuits, and a Hotline Message
One member urged a Presidential Medal of Freedom for a baker who refused a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. Another pressed the Department of Justice to intervene in court on behalf of Amish parents. They are challenging New York’s vaccine requirements and want relief. A separate proposal backed Catholic nuns challenging New York rules on hospice patients’ gender identities. The commission chair also called for a federal hotline. It would play an automated message saying, “There is no separation of church and state.”
A Broader Definition of Religious Liberty
Commissioners promoted religious expression in public schools and favored greater visibility for faith in civic life. They also sought expanded access to public money for faith-based organizations. Several ideas aimed to widen religious-based exemptions across policy areas. Those areas included labor law, classroom lessons, and healthcare mandates. Supporters argued these steps protect believers, so they see them as essential.
Supreme Court Echoes and Growing Alarm
These proposals mirror trends in recent Supreme Court decisions from the conservative majority. Backers say the religious liberty commission report should reinforce those directions because they view government rules as coercive. Detractors warn the commission’s final report could weaken protections for others, including LGBTQ people and patients. They also fear public funds could blur church-state boundaries, but they see that as a lasting shift.
‘No Separation Of Church And State’: Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission Reveals Its Priorities
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