The Clinton administration is forming a 20-member advisory committee of prominent religious leaders and scholars to be housed in the State Department, the Washington Post reported in Sunday editions.
The paper quoted White House officials as saying the panel would advise the secretary of state on problems of religious oppression and intolerance. The move comes in response to pressure by evangelical Christians, who are seeking to call national attention to widespread persecution, torture and execution of Christians overseas.
The Post quoted one White House official as saying the panel would be announced “very soon,” saying that it would be charged with making specific recommendations in areas such as diplomacy, refugees and using religious leaders to resolve disputes.
The Senate last week passed a non-binding resolution condemning “egregious” abuses of Christians around the world and calling on the responsible regimes to stop acts of persecution. A similar measure is headed for the House.
