ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY COMMISSION

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1.  Purpose and Policy.  It shall be the policy of the executive branch to vigorously enforce the historic and robust protections for religious liberty enshrined in Federal law.  The Founders envisioned a Nation in which religious voices and views are integral to a vibrant public square and human flourishing and in which religious people and institutions are free to practice their faith without fear of discrimination or hostility from the Government.  Indeed, the roots of religious liberty stretch back to the early settlers who fled religious persecution in Europe, seeking a new world where they could choose, follow, and practice their faith without interference from the Government.  The principle of religious liberty was enshrined in American law with the First Amendment to the Constitution in 1791.  Since that time, the Constitution has protected the fundamental right to religious liberty as Americans’ first freedom...