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
Archaeologists uncover 4th-century Christian church complex near Rome
In the ancient port city of Ostia near Rome, archaeologists have uncovered a large early Christian complex with a church and bishop's palace dating back to the 4th century.
Vance praises Georgian patriarch's work
The U.S. vice president spoke positively about the role of the primate of the Georgian Church in preserving Christian values in the country.
UOC Social Department donates gaming consoles to children’s hospitals in Kyiv
The UOC Social Department delivered PlayStation 5 sets to seven pediatric hospitals in Kyiv, with a total value of 483,453 hryvnias.
Authorities seize icons and reliquary from Krupytskyi Monastery nuns
After the takeover of the UOC’s Krupytskyi Monastery, officials are preventing the sisters from recovering a reliquary and an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Mukachevo Eparchy priest receives commendations from AFU
Archpriest Vasyl Lomaha was presented with commendations from the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the “Berehove Union of Mothers and Wives of ATO Participants.”
Court ruling bars Metropolis of Moldova faithful from entering a church
After a decision by the Supreme Court of Justice, police blocked Orthodox Church of Moldova faithful from accessing the church in the village of Dereneu.