U.S. Vice President: 'We have much more to do to secure religious liberty'

Vice President JD Vance speaking at the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington D.C. on Feb. 5, 2025. Photo: Christian Daily International

On February 5, 2025, Vice President J.D. Vance spoke at the International Summit on Religious Freedom in Washington, D.C., demonstrating the U.S. administration's commitment to the core values of religious freedom and independence, as reported by Christian Daily.

The U.S. Vice President stated: "The first Trump administration took critical steps to protect the rights of the faithful, whether that was by rescue of pastors who were persecuted by foreign regimes or bringing relief to the Yazidi Christians and other faith communities facing genocidal terror from ISIS."

J.D. Vance noted that Trump’s first term received strong approval from religious Americans. According to Vance, Trump took decisive action to defend religious freedom, combat antisemitism, and advocate for the rights of religious leaders.

He assured the audience that in U.S. foreign policy, it is necessary to distinguish between regimes that respect religious freedom and those that do not.

“The United States must be able to make that distinction,” he said. “We must be able to look at the catastrophes like the plight of Iraq’s Christians over the past three decades and possess the moral clarity to act when something has gone wrong.”

"Both at home and abroad, we have much more to do to more fully secure religious liberty for all people of faith," Vance declared.

In conclusion, Vance thanked summit participants for their hard work, saying:

“This is a beautiful conference – you guys are doing God’s work,” he said. “This is the most important work that can be had right now, which is people of all faith gathering, working shoulder to shoulder to build unity, cohesion, speak to social justice, international justice, healing, bringing souls together, transcendence, building community.”

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Trump was urged to unfreeze funding for religious freedom projects.

 

 

Read also

DESS responds to statements by UOC lawyers

Yelensky’s agency claimed that the UOC’s lawyers are “discrediting” Ukraine’s leadership and spreading “disinformation.”

Lawyers collect statements from faithful to defend Kyiv Metropolia in court

UOC lawyers have prepared a procedure enabling clergy and laypeople to take part in the court proceedings over the DESS lawsuit.

UOC faithful make pilgrimage to Georgia’s holy sites

The pilgrims visited churches and monasteries in Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Kutaisi, and at the foot of Mount Kazbek.

Bulgarian Church Synod condemns suspended cleric's slander against Patriarch

The Holy Synod spoke out against the politicization of religion and the cleric's attempts to portray himself as a "victim."

UOC faithful hold religious procession to monastery in Zakarpattia

Pilgrims from Irshava visited the Dubrivka Monastery and churches in the villages of Bilky and Pryborzhavske.

Turkey begins installing protective covering over Hagia Sophia's dome

A temporary covering will be installed to preserve the structures, mosaics, and ensure workers' safety during the cathedral restoration.