1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

The president's recent executive order to combat "anti-Christian bias" in the federal government raises concerning implications for religious freedom and the separation of church and state. By singling out Christianity and creating a task force to "prosecute anti-Christian violence and vandalism," the administration appears to be elevating one religion above others. This contradicts the fundamental principle of religious liberty enshrined in the First Amendment, which protects the free exercise of all faiths and ensures the government remains neutral on matters of religion. True religious freedom means the government must treat all religions equally, without favoring or disfavoring any particular belief system. Focusing enforcement efforts solely on "anti-Christian" incidents disregards the experiences of other religious minorities who also face discrimination and hate crimes. A fair and just approach would be to vigorously uphold the rights of all religious adherents, regardless of their specific faith traditions. Furthermore, the characterization of the previous administration as having "ignored violent, anti-Christian offenses" is a concerning overstatement that lacks substantiation. All forms of religiously-motivated violence and discrimination should be strongly condemned and prosecuted under existing laws, without unduly privileging any one religion over others. The principles of religious liberty and separation of church and state have served as bulwarks against persecution and ensured a pluralistic society where diverse beliefs can coexist. We should recommit to these core values by ensuring the government remains neutral towards religion and protects the free exercise of all faiths equally. Singling out a particular religion for preferential treatment undermines these cherished ideals and could open the door to further erosion of our first freedom.