President Trump builds a powerful Religious Liberty Commission with elite Catholic bishops and faith leaders to counter growing persecution of Christians across America.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump has appointed three prominent U.S. Catholic bishops and a parish priest to an advisory board of the Religious Liberty Commission.
- The commission’s Advisory Board of Religious Leaders includes 13 distinguished members, including Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan and Bishop Robert E. Barron.
- The commission will produce a comprehensive report on religious liberty foundations, current threats, and strategies for protection.
- Additional appointments include six legal advisers and nine lay leader advisers, creating a robust multi-faith coalition to defend religious freedom.
- This initiative directly addresses growing concerns about religious persecution highlighted in the U.S. bishops’ 2025 report.
Trump Assembles Elite Faith Leaders to Protect Religious Liberty
President Donald Trump has taken decisive action to defend religious freedom in America by appointing a distinguished group of Catholic bishops and other faith leaders to advisory boards for the Religious Liberty Commission. The Catholic contingent includes Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, and Father Thomas Ferguson, all recognized for their strong defense of religious liberty. This strategic move demonstrates Trump’s commitment to protecting people of faith from the increasingly aggressive secular attacks on religious expression in public life Stated President Donald Trump
The appointments represent a significant step toward reinforcing constitutional protections for religious Americans. Bishop Rhoades brings particular expertise as the current chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Religious Liberty. Bishop Paprocki, who chairs the USCCB’s Canonical Affairs Committee, gained national recognition for initiating the “Fortnight for Freedom” campaign that mobilized Catholics to defend religious liberty. Archbishop Cordileone has been a vocal advocate through his work with the USCCB’s Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth.
Commission’s Mandate to Address Growing Religious Persecution
The Religious Liberty Commission has been tasked with producing a comprehensive report examining the foundations of religious liberty, documenting current threats, and developing effective strategies for protecting this fundamental freedom. The 13-member Advisory Board of Religious Leaders includes other prominent faith voices such as Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan and Bishop Robert E. Barron. By bringing together diverse religious perspectives, President Trump has created a powerhouse coalition capable of addressing the complex challenges facing religious Americans today.
Father Ferguson, another appointee, brings scholarly expertise as the author of a book on John Courtney Murray, one of America’s most influential thinkers on religious liberty. The Trump administration has further strengthened the commission by appointing six legal advisers and nine lay leader advisers, creating a multidisciplinary approach to defending faith communities. This comprehensive structure ensures the commission can effectively address the full spectrum of religious liberty challenges identified in the U.S. bishops’ 2025 report Stated Catholic Bishop, The Religious leader.
Responding to Escalating Threats Against People of Faith
The establishment of this commission comes at a critical time when religious Americans face unprecedented challenges. The U.S. bishops recently highlighted serious concerns including restrictions on faith-based immigration services, rising antisemitic incidents, and limitations on parental choice in education. Trump’s initiative directly addresses these concerns by creating a powerful advocacy body capable of developing policy solutions that protect religious expression across all faith traditions Stated Prof. Josh Blackman
The commission represents President Trump’s recognition that religious liberty stands as America’s first freedom – the foundation upon which all other rights depend. By appointing leaders with demonstrated commitment to protecting religious expression, Trump has created a bulwark against the progressive agenda that has increasingly sidelined and marginalized people of faith. The commission’s work will help ensure that Americans of all faiths can practice their beliefs without government interference or social persecution.
