President Donald Trump’s newly established Religious Liberty Commission has assembled a diverse team of faith leaders, legal experts, and advocates to protect religious freedoms across America.
At a Glance
- President Trump signed an executive order on May 1 creating the Religious Liberty Commission during a White House Rose Garden interfaith event
- The commission includes prominent Catholic leaders like Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Bishop Robert Barron, and Bishop Thomas Paprocki, along with representatives from Protestant, Orthodox, and Jewish faiths
- Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick chairs the commission with Dr. Ben Carson serving as vice chair
- Three advisory boards of religious clergy, legal experts, and lay leaders will focus on religious liberty foundations, threats, protections, school choice, and conscience rights
- The commission will advise the White House Faith Office and Domestic Policy Council on safeguarding religious freedoms
Formation and Leadership Structure
President Donald Trump established the Religious Liberty Commission through an executive order signed on May 1 during an interfaith gathering at the White House Rose Garden. The commission will operate under the guidance of the White House Faith Office and Domestic Policy Council, focusing on religious liberty foundations, awareness campaigns, threat assessment, and protection mechanisms. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has been appointed as chair with former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson serving as vice chair.
On May 16, the White House announced the formation of three distinct advisory boards to support the commission’s work: one comprising religious leaders, another consisting of legal experts, and a third made up of lay leaders from various faith traditions. This structure ensures comprehensive representation across America’s diverse religious landscape while providing specialized expertise in constitutional law and practical implementation of religious liberty protections.
Catholic Church Representation
The Religious Liberty Commission features significant Catholic Church leadership, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York and Bishop Robert Barron, both appointed as commission members. Cardinal Dolan was unable to attend the initial White House ceremony due to his presence in Rome for the papal conclave. The advisory boards include Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, Bishop Kevin Rhoades who chairs the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Religious Liberty, and San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone.
“I am grateful to President Trump for appointing me to serve on the Commission on Religious Liberty.”, said Bishop Barron.
Father Thomas Ferguson, a parish priest with a doctorate in government who authored a book on religious liberty and Catholicism in America, has also been appointed. Bishop Paprocki brings significant experience having played a key role in the bishops’ “Fortnight for Freedom” religious liberty campaign in 2012, which mobilized Catholics to defend their religious freedoms against government encroachment.
Diverse Faith Representation
Beyond Catholic leadership, the commission includes prominent Protestant leaders like Reverend Franklin Graham and Pastor Paula White, who Trump credited with helping secure Christian support during his first presidential campaign. The advisory boards feature a Greek Orthodox archbishop, two Protestant pastors, and four Jewish rabbis, reflecting the commission’s commitment to defending religious liberty across faith traditions.
“In comments at the event, Trump sought to cast his administration as one defending ‘people of all faiths, their religious freedoms, at home and abroad.'”, said Donald Trump.
Lay leaders on the advisory boards include Dr. Alveda King, niece of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who has been a vocal advocate for religious liberty. The legal experts advisory board features Ryan Tucker and Kristen Waggoner from the Alliance Defending Freedom, bringing substantial expertise in constitutional law cases involving religious freedom claims. Dr. Phil McGraw, known for his television show, has also been appointed to contribute his perspective.
Focus Areas and Challenges
The commission will address several key areas, including conscience protections for healthcare workers, free speech rights for religious individuals, institutional autonomy for faith-based organizations, protection of worship places, parental rights in education, and school choice initiatives. Father Ferguson has identified specific concerns including insurance mandates that conflict with religious teachings and new laws that could compel priests to break the seal of confession.
While the commission has been praised by many religious leaders, some faith groups have maintained criticisms of certain Trump administration policies, particularly regarding immigration. The commission aims to balance these perspectives by focusing on core religious liberty principles while promoting awareness of America’s religious pluralism and the legal protections available to faith communities across the nation.