NewsMax | 051318
The Trump administration is being urged to elevate the cause of religious liberty — some liken it to the same urgency that the Obama administration placed on climate change.
Former Sen. Sam Brownback is leading the charge. The grim uncertainty now faced worldwide for those who practice their faith — Christians and Catholics, Yesidis, and Muslims — will grow in importance to Americans as climate change did.
“President Trump and Vice President Pence want to see this happen,” said Brownback, who was recently confirmed as U.S. ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom.
The former Republican U.S. senator and two-term Kansas governor spoke to an overflow crowd of fellow advocates for the right to worship at the U.S. Capitol. The event was sponsored by the International Catholic Legislators Network.
Brownback was personally involved in the effort to secure the release of Presbyterian Pastor Andrew Brunson, who was arrested in Turkey following the attempted coup against President Erdogan in 2016 and has since languished in prison.
In addition, Ambassador Brownback told Newsmax he is talking to his counterparts in other countries that are now “bad actors” on the issue of religious freedom. They are willing to change, Brownback said, “Primarily because they want to enlarge their economies.”