There is a bill before Congress that richly deserves prompt passage but that is likely to be stalled in the Senate or vetoed by the president. It is the “Freedom from Religious Persecution Bill.”
This bill simply stipulates that the U.S. should not send economic aid to governments that routinely oppress believers. The bill would not inhibit free trade or humanitarian assistance, but it would identify persecuting nations and thereby exert a moral force on the conscience of the world.
The 1st Amendment of our Bill of Rights states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. . .” How can we deny to other countries the same right we hold so dear?
If this bill is opposed in Congress, it can only indicate that the American people will selfishly guard their own rights while remaining oblivious to the terrible persecutions taking place around the world of those who seek to practice their faith.
It behooves the U.S. to exercise some degree of condemnation and promptly pass the Freedom from Religious Persecution Bill, but this will only happen if voters with a conscience take the trouble to contact their senators to express support.
