The recently signed Presidential Executive Order is an encouraging sign that the Federal government is moving away from being a barrier to a greater defense of religious freedom.
 
On May 3rd President Trump signed an Executive Order to ensure that the faith-based and community organizations have strong advocates in the White House and throughout Federal Government.
 
The “Establishment of a White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative” creates the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative within the Executive Office of the President. The Executive Order will:

*** Provide recommendations on the Administration’s policy agenda affecting faith-based and community programs;
 
*** Provide recommendations on programs and policies where faith-based and community organizations may partner and/or deliver more effective solutions to poverty;
 
*** Apprise the Administration of any failures of the executive branch to comply with religious liberty protections under law; and
 
*** Reduce the burdens on the exercise of free religion.
 
The Initiative will be led by the newly created position of Advisor to the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative (Initiative) and be supported by experts and various community and faith leaders from outside of the Federal Government.
 
All executive departments and agencies that do not have Centers for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives will designate a liaison to the Initiative.
 
The May 3rd Executive Order builds on recent major initiatives in January.
 
*** January 2018, the Justice Department announced a religious liberty update to the U.S. Attorneys’ Manual, raising the profile of religious liberty cases and directing the designation of a Religious Liberty Point of Contact for all U.S. Attorney’s offices.
 
*** January 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced major policy changes protecting freedom of religion inside and outside of the government. It formed a new Conscience and Religious Freedom Division, providing HHS with the focus it needs to more vigorously and effectively enforce existing laws protecting the rights of conscience and religious freedom.
Read full report at cdlmn.org