Religious Liberty

The day after the election, Franklin Graham posted on Facebook, saying “This win is historic in many ways. Millions and millions of people were praying, and I believe God heard their prayers.” He went on to list all the prayers that he saw answered. Among them was this: “It’s a win for religious liberty.”

Has this been a win for religious liberty? Because twenty-four days into this administration, it’s not feeling that way. Let’s start with the National Prayer Service. After Bishop Mariann Budde asked for mercy for immigrants and transgender children, Trump lashed out at her. “The so-called Bishop who spoke at the National Prayer Service on Tuesday morning was a Radical Left hard line Trump hater. She brought her church into the World of politics in a very ungracious way. She was nasty in tone, and not compelling or smart,” he said. Well, it was the National Prayer Service, after all. Still, the hostility of his remarks does not sound like support for religious liberty.

As Elon Musk and others try to dismantle USAID, Michael Flynn went to X and actually accused Lutheran organizations of “money laundering,” a federal crime. He posted some screenshots of a spreadsheet that didn’t support the accusation. Still, he insisted this “fraud” amounted to billions of American taxpayer dollars.

Bishop Elizabeth Eaton pushed back: “Despite misinformation and baseless doubt cast today on funding that supports Lutheran organizations across our country, the ELCA remains steadfast in our commitment and work with our many Lutheran partners and expressions of our church. The ELCA is also concerned for other faith-based communities and organizations who have similarly come under attack.”

Come under attack? I’m confused, Franklin. You said this was a win for religious liberty. Are Flynn and Musk just allowed to slander the ELCA with baseless accusations? I mean, these are faith-based organizations that are being falsely accused.

And the Catholics have not been immune. After the Pope called out J.D. Vance for his misinterpretation of ordo amoris and immigration policies in general, Vance lashed out. “I think that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops needs to actually look in the mirror a little bit and recognize that when they receive over $100 million to help resettle illegal immigrants, are they worried about humanitarian concerns? Or are they actually worried about their bottom line?” Since when are they resettling illegal immigrants? And are you accusing the Catholics (with no evidence) of funneling this money to their own coffers?

Catholic leaders responded. “In 1980, the bishops of the United States began partnering with the federal government to carry out this service when Congress created the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Every person resettled through USRAP is vetted and approved for the program by the federal government while outside of the United States [emphasis added]. In our agreements with the government, the USCCB receives funds to do this work; however, these funds are not sufficient to cover the entire cost of these programs. Nonetheless, this remains a work of mercy and ministry of the Church," the statement said.

The Trump administration has been allowed, since he came onto the political scene, to slander people who seek refuge here, conflating immigrants with “criminals.” Some come from places where their Christian beliefs have put them in danger. I think these refugees were hoping to come to the U.S., where we are experiencing a “win for religious liberty.”

Misinformation. Slander. Hatred and bigotry. Lashing out at faith-based organizations who take the Corporal Works of Mercy seriously. As defined by the Catholics, these are “found in the teachings of Jesus and give us a model for how we should treat all others, as if they were Christ in disguise.” If these faith-based groups are being accused because they support the refugees, then that does not look like a win for religious liberty.

The Gospels are pretty clear. “All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” (Matt. 25: 32). To the sheep, the King will say, “‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father … For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in’” (Matt. 25: 34-35).

But to the goats, the King will say, “‘Depart from me, you who are cursed ... For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in’” (Matt. 25: 41-43).

So, when it comes to a win for religious liberty, I’m gonna have to ask. Was it a win for the sheep or for the goats?

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