President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday establishing a presidential commission on religious liberty.
Trump unveiled plans for the new commission during a National Day of Prayer event at the White House and signed it later in the event. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will serve as the chairman of the commission, Trump said from the White House Rose Garden.
‘The last administration attacked people of faith for four years,’ Patrick said Thursday. ‘There’s a saying that no one should get between a doctor and a patient. I think we would say no one should get between God and a believer. No one should get between God and those seeking him.’
The Religious Liberty Commission will compose a report evaluating threats to religious liberty in the U.S., ways to enhance religious freedom and examine the history of American religious liberty, according to a White House fact sheet on the executive order.
The report will address issues including parental rights in religious education, school choice, attacks on religious places of worship, and free speech issues for religious organizations, according to the fact sheet.
‘Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, faith has not been pushed aside,’ Paula White-Cain, who leads the White House’s faith office, said at the prayer event. ‘It has been brought back to where it always belongs, and that is center.’
The commission will include leaders from ‘diverse’ religious backgrounds, clergy members, legal experts, academics and public advocates, the fact sheet said.
Additionally, these leaders will provide guidance to the White House on policy and legislative solutions to advance religious liberty.
Among those serving on the commission are American TV personality and author Phillip McGraw, known as Dr. Phil, who has his own television show. McGraw appeared at the White House Thursday during the prayer event.
Trump previously stood up a White House Faith Office, as well as a task force at the Justice Department focused on eliminating anti-Christian bias.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
