Trump's week in review: Religious Liberty Commission launched; NPR, PBS to be defunded

By Ryan Foley, Christian Post Reporter
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, speaks during a news conference at the headquarters of the Archdiocese of New York, September 20, 2018, in New York City. Dolan announced that he is appointing Barbara Jones, a former judge for the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York, to review the Catholic Church's procedures and protocols for handling allegations of sexual abuse.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, speaks during a news conference at the headquarters of the Archdiocese of New York, September 20, 2018, in New York City. Dolan announced that he is appointing Barbara Jones, a former judge for the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York, to review the Catholic Church's procedures and protocols for handling allegations of sexual abuse. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images
3. Trump establishes a Religious Liberty Commission

In an executive order published Thursday, Trump established a Religious Liberty Commission that will consist of 14 members who will serve through at least July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

The commission will be tasked with producing a "comprehensive report on the foundations of religious liberty in America, the impact of religious liberty on American society, current threats to domestic religious liberty, strategies to preserve and enhance religious liberty protections for future generations, and programs to increase awareness of and celebrate America's peaceful religious pluralism."

The commission will also recommend "steps to secure domestic religious liberty by executive or legislative actions."

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Additional responsibilities of the commission will include "identifying opportunities for the White House Faith Office to partner with the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom to further the cause of religious liberty around the world." The executive order also authorizes Trump to appoint three separate advisory boards consisting of no more than 15 religious leaders, no more than 15 lay leaders from religious congregations and no more than 10 legal experts. 

The commission's creation coincided with the National Day of Prayer.

In a separate statement published Thursday, Trump unveiled the members of the commission chaired by Texas' Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Religious leaders on the commission include Bishop Robert Barron of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota, Trump's spiritual adviser Paula White, Rabbi Meir Solevechek, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York and evangelist Franklin Graham.

Dominated by social conservatives, lay leaders on the commission include former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson, Kelly Shackelford of the law firm First Liberty Institute, Ryan Anderson of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, former Miss California USA Carrie Prejean Boller, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner, attorney Allyson Ho and radio host Eric Metaxas. 

Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com

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