Bill Proposed To Prioritize Religious Freedom In State Department

By Daniel Burke
Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS) New legislation proposed by a leading congressional watchdog would push the State Department to make international religious freedom a greater priority.

Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., introduced a bill on Wednesday (May 11) that would boost the profile of the ambassador-at-large for religious freedom, require religious training for foreign service officers, and reauthorize an independent panel that monitors restrictions placed on beliefs and practices abroad.

The bill would also require the State Department report to Congress about concrete measures it has taken toward countries that violate religious rights.

"Religious freedom, often referred to as the first freedom, is of central import to the American experiment," Wolf said on Wednesday. "As such it should feature prominently in U.S. foreign policy."

Wolf authored the 1998 bill that established the State Department's international religious freedom office, created an ambassador-at-large for the issue and founded a bipartisan commission to monitor foreign governments.

President Obama's new religious freedom envoy, the Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook, was confirmed by the Senate last month. Wolf's bill, which was co-sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., would give Cook and future envoys a direct line to the secretary of state.

It would also require the secretary of state, the Treasury Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to issue a report to Congress on the best ways to use U.S. aid to promote religious freedom.

In addition, Wolf's bill would reauthorize the independent U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, whose nine members are appointed by the White House and Congress.

The commission, due to expire Sept. 30, issues annual reports that flag religious freedom concerns and offers recommendations to the president, State Department and Congress. Critics say the bipartisan commission lacks the teeth to execute its policy recommendations.

Comments

[P3]

03:26 AM on 05/18/2011

This addresses freedom, what we would call Human Rights,
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml
in America it's a hate crime, by race, religion or sexual orientation

[Nathaneal Green]

03:27 PM on 05/16/2011

It has long been the policy of the U.S. to advance freedom throughout the world. This is done in many ways. A nation without religious freedom is also a nation without freedom of speech. They are twin freedoms. A nation without religious freedom is also a nation where only some citizens may petition government. I am unaware of any nation with self government that doesn't also advance religious freedoms. In short, all who applaud freedom should applaud efforts to extend freedom to more lands and people than have enjoyed them to date. Freedom of religion is a core freedom in the U.S. Constitution and is closely tied to other freedoms enjoyed in the U.S. Our freedoms are inter-related and if one freedom suffers, others are threatened or diminished. Those who bristle at religion, may rejoice in their freedom, which is denied to millions around the world.

[gx5000]

09:44 AM on 07/04/2011

You can have free speech without it being peppered by religious nonsense.
How about you try and protect a citizen's right in the US to film official actions first huh.

[moxford0]

11:27 PM on 05/15/2011

This is just plain crapola.

[almostlyniceguy]

10:58 PM on 05/15/2011

"Religious freedom, often referred to as the first freedom, is of central import to the American experiment," Wolf said on Wednesday. "As such it should feature prominently in U.S. foreign policy."

So it isn't enough to cram your social agenda down American's throats, you want the freedom to send missionaries to other countries and force the other countries to put up with the same fundamentalist nonsense we put up with here?

[gx5000]

09:41 AM on 07/04/2011

It just smacks as another excuse to meddle in the affairs of foreigners....
How's about "protecting Religious expression" but removing the Tax breaks and lawsuits.
Then you can start protecting them from state sanctioned aggression no matter what the reason. Protecting people on the base of religion is just idiotic.

[Nathaneal Green]

08:17 PM on 05/15/2011

Religious freedom is our nation's strongest tool against and perhaps greatest difference from Islamic totalitarian nations.

[gx5000]

09:42 AM on 07/04/2011

Religion is what brings to bear the animosity that is bread by predatory economics.

[RedRat]

04:17 PM on 05/15/2011

I must say that I oppose this bill, not because it is pushing religion, but based on the separation of powers. Congress is not charged to conduct foreign policy, that belongs in the Executive Branch. This would be a bad precedent, of course in a long stretch of bad precedents, for Congress to begin interfering with how the Executive conducts foreign policy.

[Naturechaplain]

01:56 PM on 05/15/2011

I'd have to learn more about this, but it is deeply disturbing. Another glaring example of why religion has no place meddling in secular government. And just what kind of "religious freedom" will our White, Christian American "envoy" promote in other countries? Human Rights is an honorable, appropriate, natural role for our voice to be heard (if not arrogantly imposed or preached) but our representatives should stay out of super-natural crusading.

[gx5000]

09:42 AM on 07/04/2011

Crusade !

f&f

[BlueZoo]

01:16 PM on 05/15/2011

Absolutely outrageous! This is incredible! The very fact that the Christian religion appears to be foremost in this travesty tells me how very wrong it is. Not only are we trying to force democracy down the throats of other countries but now we feel free to lecture them on their choice(s) of religion? If other countries wish to mandate one religion for their people, it's their own business and not ours! Leave the proselytizing to the missionaries and let's stay out of the religion business. It is no wonder the world sees us as arrogant!

[Nunyabiz1]

03:52 PM on 05/15/2011

Well just look at our military, it is loaded from top to bottom with Christian lunatics.
What could possibly worse than religious lunatics with weapons?

[BlueZoo]

04:54 PM on 05/15/2011

Nothing whatsoever, as is evidenced by the two wars we're in ostensibly because of even more religious extremists with weapons!

[Today2011]

09:53 AM on 05/15/2011

Get the government out of the business of religion.

[OneFish]

09:02 AM on 05/15/2011

not the way I want my tax money spent.

[LMPE]

11:17 PM on 05/14/2011

"Religious freedom in the workplace" is doublespeak for "give pharmacists the right not to fill birth control pills".

[COPESTIR3]

04:43 PM on 05/14/2011

Religious freedom also include the freedom to not believe. Currently, at my work place we all must endure a spiritual moment prior to a mandated staff meeting. So each week we all must have shoved down out throats a spiritual affirmation. For those of us that have a close and personal relationship with God that is private, this is offensive. I am sure those that are agnostic or atheist it is a royal pain. For religious freedom to be really free, there must be an understating and recognition that it must not be forced, nor imposed.

[Quislet]

11:22 AM on 05/15/2011

At the next spiritual moment at your work quote Matthew 6:5,6 "5.

"When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
"But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. "

[gx5000]

09:46 AM on 07/04/2011

Oh my, tough break, time to look for another job with rationale bosses ?

[Andre Lieven]

12:19 PM on 05/14/2011

Will this ambassador for religious freedom pay any investigative visits to the US Air Force Academy, where religious freedom is not permitted ?
-Christians Desecrate Wiccan Religious Site at Air Force Academy-
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/02/03/christians-desecrate-wiccan-religious-site-at-air-force-academy/
Or, Fort Bragg ?:
http://freethinker.co.uk/2011/03/04/big-trouble-brewing-in-n-carolina-after-fort-bragg-reneges-on-promise-to-atheists/
Religious discrimination is common in the US. Until the Us deals with it's own such issues, it's standing to lecture to the rest of the world is... fictional.

[GoodwithWood]

10:57 AM on 05/14/2011

This article is just a few spaces above this one.
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/soldiers-allege-army-investigation-anti-muslim-harassment-ruined/story?id=13590030

How about we work on our own country's religious intolerance and stop telling others to "do as we say not as we do."

[George Medley]

08:54 AM on 05/14/2011

When it is a capital offence for a Muslim to convert, as is the case in a few countries (and it is still a crime, though I don't htink "capital" in Afganastahn of all places for a Muslim to convert), then there is a problem. When China wants to regulate the thought of an entire country there is a problem (though don't expect anything to happen with China anytime soon). And yes it is a problem that needs adjusting. When the US worked to be part of NATO and the UN, they pu tthemselves in the role of "policing" certain gross offenses. So this is entirely appropriate and necessary step.