“My Administration will not tolerate anti-Christian weaponization of government or unlawful conduct targeting Christians. The law protects the freedom of Americans and groups of Americans to practice their faith in peace, and my Administration will enforce the law and protect these freedoms,” promises Trump in new Executive Order.
[Cheonji Ilbo Washington=Reporter Eloise Lee] — February 6
President Trump spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning, and announced several plans to promote religious freedom, including an Executive Order for “Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias” in the federal government.
“As the Bible says, blessed are the peacemakers,” Trump told the crowd that was gathered at the Hilton Hotel on Capitol Hill. “And in the end, I hope my greatest legacy when it is all finished will be as a peacemaker and a unifier. I hope that’s going to be true,” said Trump.
He was introduced at the breakfast by Rev. Paula White, the American televangelist and former chair of his evangelical advisory board during the 2016 campaign. White introduced President Trump as “the greatest champion any president that has ever been, of religion.”
During his remarks, Trump also announced the creation of a Faith Office in the White House that will be led by Rev. Paula White. He also revealed a plan for a Presidential Commission on Religion. “I will be creating a brand-new presidential commission on religious liberty,” he said. “It’s going to be a very big deal.”
Although the most notable announcement was an Executive Order, which was signed that day, targeting “anti-Christian bias” and “weaponization” against Christians by the government, allegedly perpetrated by the Biden Administration.
“It is the policy of the United States, and the purpose of this order, to protect the religious freedoms of Americans and end the anti-Christian weaponization of government. “The Founders established a Nation in which people were free to practice their faith without fear of discrimination or retaliation by their government,” explained Trump in the order.
The EO orders Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead a task force that will review the activities of all executive departments and agencies under the previous Administration, and identify any “unlawful anti-Christian policies, practices, or conduct.”
Trump cited examples of Christian and Catholic anti-abortion protesters being arrested and sentenced with prison time.
“The Biden Department of Justice sought to squelch faith in the public square by bringing Federal criminal charges and obtaining in numerous cases multi-year prison sentences against nearly two dozen peaceful pro-life Christians for praying and demonstrating outside abortion facilities,” states the EO.
Trump mentions a Catholic priest and 75-year-old grandmother, as well as an 87-year-old woman and a father of 11 children who were arrested and convicted 18 months after praying and singing hymns outside an abortion facility in Tennessee.
On January 23, three days into his new term, Trump issued pardons to the individuals in these cases.