America was founded on the revolutionary idea that our rights come from God—not from bureaucrats, not from activist judges, and certainly not from power-hungry politicians. President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, which convened for the first time Monday at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., understands this core truth. Led by Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and renowned conservative icon Dr. Ben Carson, this commission is stepping forward to restore religious liberty to its rightful place at the heart of American public life.
From its very inception by President Trump’s executive order earlier this year, the commission has signaled a powerful return to our nation’s foundational values. At Monday’s inaugural meeting, Attorney General Pamela Bondi reaffirmed this administration’s intent to dismantle the lingering anti-religious bias sown by Biden-era policies. Bondi was unequivocal, calling out past abuses: “From the start, the United States of America was envisioned as a place where religious liberty meant the freedom to discern good from evil without the heavy hand of the government weighing in.”
Bondi didn’t stop there. She openly condemned the outrageous arrests of pro-life Christians, antisemitic blockades against synagogues, and the Biden administration’s shameful decision in 2024 to overshadow Easter Sunday with a “transgender day of visibility.” Under President Trump, Bondi declared, the government will not only respect but actively safeguard the rights of believers to live by their convictions without fear of persecution.
The commission’s membership itself speaks volumes about the seriousness of the mission. Catholic Bishop Robert Barron, evangelical leader Franklin Graham, Orthodox Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik, and Pastor Paula White, who leads the White House Faith Office, all bring formidable moral authority. Even popular culture figure Dr. Phil McGraw adds his voice, signaling that religious liberty transcends politics—it is about preserving the soul and moral fabric of our nation.
Kelly Shackelford, an esteemed constitutional scholar serving on the commission, reminded Americans of the stakes involved. “The Founders of America believed that the first battle against dictatorial power would be fought on the grounds of religious freedom,” Shackelford said at the meeting. “Religious freedom is the precipice of all our freedoms.” Shackelford is right: without religious liberty, our other freedoms—speech, assembly, conscience—become vulnerable and meaningless.
Dr. Ben Carson, a steadfast advocate of faith’s role in public life, emphasized the commission’s long-term vision. “This commission promotes freedom of beliefs and that spiritual aspect of our existence that advances civilization. We will strive to facilitate the maintenance of one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” Carson declared. Rather than shying away from America’s spiritual foundations, Carson and his fellow commissioners are leaning into them, understanding that true justice and liberty can only thrive when faith is honored and protected.
Pastor Paula White offered a practical roadmap for the commission’s work ahead. “The Commission will focus on long-term strategies to secure religious freedom for future generations,” White explained. “We will gather data, conduct legal analysis, and hold public hearings to capture the stories of everyday Americans related to religious liberty.” These strategies underscore the administration’s commitment not just to symbolic gestures, but to concrete, impactful policy changes that will protect believers at every level of society.
In establishing the Religious Liberty Commission, President Trump has once again proven that he is serious about restoring America to greatness—not just economically or militarily, but morally and spiritually as well. The commission’s work will ensure that faith is no longer sidelined or dismissed by a hostile secularist elite but embraced as the bedrock of American freedom.
This commission will serve as a critical check against encroachments upon religious freedoms, holding accountable any government entity or individual who dares tread upon the sacred rights our Founders enshrined. As Bondi declared, this administration is “fully committed to restoring and defending religious liberty for all Americans.” With Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission guiding the way, America is poised to reclaim its rightful identity as one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
