A draft final report from President Trump's Religious Liberty Commission, released Friday, explicitly calls for dismantling the traditional wall between church and state, urging Americans to build bridges between the two rather than maintain a strict separation.
The commission's report states: 'Americans must know their rights and stand with courage when those rights are challenged. To preserve this freedom, we must build bridges, not walls, between the City of God and the City of Man.' This language marks a sharp departure from the long-standing U.S. legal principle, rooted in the First Amendment, that government should not endorse or establish religion.
The report's framing echoes a broader push by Trump allies to infuse public policy with religious values, a stance that has sparked controversy. Critics argue it threatens religious freedom for minority faiths and non-believers, while supporters say it restores protections for Christians facing discrimination. The commission's draft recommends policy changes to strengthen religious exemptions in areas like healthcare, education, and employment.
The release comes amid a series of Trump administration actions on religious liberty, including executive orders and Justice Department guidance. The administration has also backed cases like Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which weighed religious objections against anti-discrimination laws.
For context, the administration's approach has drawn comparisons to international developments, such as Trump's Iran policy, where religious and geopolitical tensions intersect. Domestically, the report's recommendations could influence pending legislation, like Trump's housing bill, which may incorporate religious liberty provisions.
The commission, composed of religious leaders and conservative activists, was tasked with advising the president on protecting religious freedom. Its draft report is expected to be finalized after a public comment period, though the timeline remains unclear. Some members have pushed for more aggressive measures, including a federal law to override state-level non-discrimination protections.
Legal scholars warn that the report's 'bridges' metaphor could undermine the Establishment Clause, which the Supreme Court has interpreted as requiring a separation between church and state. 'This is a direct challenge to constitutional precedent,' said one constitutional law expert, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'It would allow government to favor religion over non-religion, which is exactly what the First Amendment was designed to prevent.'
The report's release also coincides with broader political battles, such as Trump's warnings about socialist primary wins, where cultural and religious divides are central. As the 2022 midterms approach, the religious liberty issue is expected to mobilize conservative voters, while Democrats highlight threats to secular governance.
In response, civil liberties groups have vowed to challenge any policy changes that blur church-state lines. 'This report is a blueprint for theocracy,' said a spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union. 'We will fight any attempt to impose one religion's beliefs on all Americans.' The commission's final report will likely intensify the debate over the role of faith in public life, a question that has divided the nation since its founding.
