President Donald Trump announced on Thursday the appointment of San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone to the advisory board of the newly established Religious Liberty Commission.
This move underscores the administration's commitment to safeguarding religious freedoms, a cornerstone of conservative values.
Archbishop Cordileone gained national attention in 2022 when he denied Holy Communion to then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, citing her public advocacy for abortion rights. The commission, created through an executive order on May 1, aims to "vigorously enforce the historic and robust protections for religious liberty enshrined in Federal law."
Cordileone expressed his enthusiasm for the role, stating, "Religious liberty is a critical issue in our time that needs to be defended and addressed. I am happy to join my brother bishops in providing a Catholic voice on this important topic at a national level." As reported by the Daily Caller, the Archdiocese directed inquiries to this public statement.
Cordileone's decision to deny Pelosi communion was firmly rooted in Church doctrine, emphasizing the responsibility of lawmakers to oppose legislation that fails to protect life. He remarked in 2022, "After numerous attempts to speak with Speaker Pelosi to help her understand the grave evil she is perpetrating, the scandal she is causing, and the danger to her own soul she is risking, I have determined that she is not to be admitted to Holy Communion."
The Religious Liberty Commission is tasked with examining threats to religious freedom within the United States and formulating strategies to uphold this fundamental right. The commission will consist of "educated representatives of various sectors of society," who will present their findings and recommendations to the White House.
The Biden administration has faced criticism for perceived encroachments on religious freedoms, notably its attempts to mandate religious doctors and hospitals to perform transgender surgeries, despite conflicts with their faith. Former President Joe Biden, who identifies as a devout Catholic, drew criticism for declaring a "transgender day of visibility" on Easter Sunday.
Further controversy arose when the FBI, under the previous administration, was accused of misusing counterterrorism tools to target Catholics and pro-life advocates, labeling them as "potential domestic terrorists."
This accusation stemmed from a February 2023 memo from the Richmond field office that described traditionalist Roman Catholics as "radical," a characterization the Bureau later retracted.
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