Catholic World News

Prelate lists mandates, executive orders that Trump should rescind to protect religious freedom

December 01, 2016

Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore has called upon President-elect Donald Trump to take several actions that would reverse mandates and executive orders issued by President Barack Obama and his administration that impinge upon religious liberty.

“President-elect Trump has the opportunity to ensure that people of all faiths can continue to do their good work in serving their communities without having to violate their consciences or face crippling fines or onerous lawsuits,” wrote Archbishop Lori, who leads the bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty. “Our hope is that the next administration will ensure that Americans remain free to serve.”

In a November 30 CNS column, the prelate called upon Trump to

“rescind executive orders that effectively exclude faith-based organizations from partnering with the federal government, such as Executive Order 13672”

“direct the head of HHS to place an immediate moratorium on the HHS mandate” and then rescind it

“direct HHS to stop enforcing its ‘transgender mandate’ issued under the purported authority of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. Catholic hospitals are currently being sued by those seeking coverage of ‘gender reassignment’ surgeries.”

“rescind the Obama administration’s ‘guidance’ and related memos on Title IX that force schools—including at the K-12 level—to treat students according to their “internal sense of gender.”

In addition, Archbishop Lori said that “schools with religious exemptions to Title IX should not be placed on a ‘shame list’ run by the U.S. Department of Education simply for claiming an exemption” and that “the president-elect should direct the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to stop enforcing its ‘gender identity’ mandate on homeless shelters.”

For all current news, visit our News home page.