(Zimmytws/Dreamstime.com
By Frank Pavone
Monday, 27 July 2026 09:53 AM EDT
Religious liberty is more than the freedom to hold private beliefs — it is the freedom to live according to one's faith in public life. The recommendations recently presented by the Religious Liberty Commission to President Trump reinforce the principle that Americans should never have to choose between following their faith and following the law.
This has particular impact on Americans who fight every day to protect children in the womb from the violence of abortion. Concerns for such Americans came up in one way or another in every one of the hearings that the Religious Liberty Commission held.
The anti-abortion movement is rooted in the very American conviction that every human life deserves equal protection under the law, despite its age.
That conviction, coupled with the American belief in peaceful protest, motivates those who are anti-abortion to stand for hours outside abortion facilities, enduring the hostile stares and words - and occasional vicious beatings - from abortion advocates in the hope of changing the mind of one mother, of saving one baby.
These same Americans believe that mothers and fathers need day to day support, and the pregnancy help movement provides such support across the country.
So often maligned for being "fake clinics" because they do not perform abortion, these vitally important centers are almost exclusively started and staffed with people of faith who are trying not to impose their faith on others but to use it to lead mothers and fathers to a much better choice than abortion.
Yet these centers are constantly harassed in abortion-friendly states and all too often find themselves embroiled in lawsuits or fighting unjust laws.
The First Amendment wins every time, with these suits settled in favor of pregnancy centers. Religious liberty helps protect the ability to advocate for life without compromising sincerely held beliefs.
One of the commission's key recommendations is to clarify the proper understanding of the Establishment Clause and the separation of church and state.
Religious liberty is more than the freedom to hold private beliefs — it is the freedom to live according to one's faith in public life. The recommendations recently presented by the Religious Liberty Commission to President Trump reinforce the principle that Americans should never have to choose between following their faith and following the law.
This has particular impact on Americans who fight every day to protect children in the womb from the violence of abortion. Concerns for such Americans came up in one way or another in every one of the hearings that the Religious Liberty Commission held.
The anti-abortion movement is rooted in the very American conviction that every human life deserves equal protection under the law, despite its age.
That conviction, coupled with the American belief in peaceful protest, motivates those who are anti-abortion to stand for hours outside abortion facilities, enduring the hostile stares and words - and occasional vicious beatings - from abortion advocates in the hope of changing the mind of one mother, of saving one baby.
These same Americans believe that mothers and fathers need day to day support, and the pregnancy help movement provides such support across the country.
So often maligned for being "fake clinics" because they do not perform abortion, these vitally important centers are almost exclusively started and staffed with people of faith who are trying not to impose their faith on others but to use it to lead mothers and fathers to a much better choice than abortion.
Yet these centers are constantly harassed in abortion-friendly states and all too often find themselves embroiled in lawsuits or fighting unjust laws.
The First Amendment wins every time, with these suits settled in favor of pregnancy centers. Religious liberty helps protect the ability to advocate for life without compromising sincerely held beliefs.
One of the commission's key recommendations is to clarify the proper understanding of the Establishment Clause and the separation of church and state.
The Constitution was designed to prevent the establishment of a national religion while protecting the free exercise of faith — not to exclude religious perspectives from public discussion.
People of faith should be free to contribute to conversations about human dignity, justice, and the value of life alongside every other voice.
The Commission also recommends expanding public education about religious liberty rights for students, educators, healthcare workers, military personnel, and others.
Greater understanding of these protections can help people confidently and respectfully live out their beliefs in schools, workplaces, and public institutions.
Other recommendations focus on increasing transparency when allegations of improper religious expression arise, strengthening legal protections for religious freedom, and ensuring that constitutional rights are consistently enforced.
These measures help safeguard the freedom of churches, pregnancy resource centers, charitable organizations, and individuals to serve their communities according to their convictions.
The commission also calls for combating antisemitism, recognizing that religious liberty is a right that belongs to people of every faith.
Protecting one group's freedom ultimately strengthens the freedoms of all Americans.
Another recommendation urges repeal of the Johnson Amendment so that pastors and other religious leaders can speak freely on matters of public concern without fear of government penalties.
This has been a frequent topic of mine for decades, and one I cover extensively in my book "Abolishing Abortion."
President Trump has been criticizing the Johnson Amendment ever since his first campaign, when he learned more about how it stifles the political expression of Americans.
Bishops and officials of the Catholic Church in the U.S. have gone woefully overboard in self-censorship, using the Johnson Amendment as a feeble excuse.
In the early 2000s, Priests for Life was subjected to an IRS audit of everything we were doing and saying, and at its conclusion, our non-profit status was intact, even though I had done the "unthinkable" and declared across this country that we need to elect public servants who know the difference between serving the public and killing the public.
Those who don't know that difference (such as those who are pro-abortion rights about the killing of children in the womb) don't belong in public office.
I continue to look forward to the day the Johnson Amendment is declared unconstitutional and removed from tax code all together and I'm grateful that the commission has included this on its list of recommendations.
Recommendations concerning military religious accommodations likewise recognize that people should not have to abandon their faith commitments in order to serve their country or pursue their profession.
Whether in the military, medicine, education, business, or public service, Americans should be free to live and work with integrity.
Ultimately, the anti-abortion movement reflects a commitment to both conviction and compassion — defending unborn children while supporting women, strengthening families, and encouraging adoption and foster care.
Religious liberty helps preserve the freedom to carry out that mission openly and faithfully, ensuring that people of faith can continue contributing to the common good without compromising their beliefs.
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