[Op-Ed] Faith & Freedom Coalition: Why North Carolina Leads the Country in This Election’s Fight for Religious Liberty

(Faith & Freedom Coalition is a social conservative political advocacy 501 non-profit organization that fights for religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and limited government that acknowledges the God-given rights of individuals. Timothy Head is the Executive Director for the Faith & Freedom Coalition; and, Jason Williams is Executive Director for the North Carolina Faith and Freedom Coalition)

In the past two months, Vice President Pence has brought his “Faith in America” tour around the country, during which he has reaffirmed the Trump administration’s commitment to the American ideals of religious liberty, the right to life, and the right to education.

North Carolina, like the current administration, has a reputation for advancing religious freedom in America. North Carolina was one of only three original American colonies that never had a religious establishment. From the beginning of its history, North Carolina has been a leader in religious freedom for this nation, providing tolerance and liberty for a wide swath of persecuted Christian groups.

North Carolina’s founding fathers understood that our rights come from God and not government – which is why Article I, Section 19 of the North Carolina Constitution declares religious freedom and equal protection under the law a fundamental right of every Carolina citizen. Governmental laws and practices should never interfere with the free exercise of religion, and this is a tenet that North Carolina has held high.

That tradition continues today. 77 percent of North Carolina adults identify as Christian, according to a Pew Research survey, and the culture of tolerance and religious acceptance in North Carolina reflects the faith-based values of liberty and freedom of expression. There are 47 Jewish temples and synagogues in North Carolina, and North Carolina is home to vibrant and flourishing Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist communities.

Americans of conscience and faith drive this country’s values. And America’s faith communities will drive this year’s election. The people of North Carolina will play a particularly important role in its outcome, which is why it is imperative that we support the current president’s reelection. President Trump and Vice President Pence have taken historic action to protect the sanctity of every human life and to defend communities of faith. During his presidency, President Trump ordered the creation of a White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative to promote partnerships between faith-based organizations and the federal government. He lifted a ban that blocked houses of worship from receiving federal disaster aid. And he created a new office at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to protect conscience rights and religious freedom.

The administration has also always drawn a line between beliefs versus conduct, which is a crucial distinction. Religious beliefs should never be used as an excuse for harmful, violent or destructive behavior. We must create space in this country for a continued spiritual dialogue while protecting the sanctity and dignity of life and the freedom to safely practice the religion of our choosing. Never has the importance of this been more acute, as China has recently ordered Christians to destroy the crosses on their churches and take down images of Jesus, replacing them with Communist portraits. This kind of persecution should never occur in America.

But right now, Americans’ religious freedom is under fire. In July, conservative Christian activist David Benham was arrested for protesting at an abortion clinic in North Carolina, ostensibly for violating social distancing regulations. But his group hadn’t committed any such violation. At a time when many protests are regularly occurring unimpeded around the country, it’s unconscionable that police would seemingly single out a Christian protestor for defending the values of his value in public.

This is, unfortunately, part of a pattern in recent months. From unlawful church closures to lopsided and uneven coronavirus regulations that limit the right of Americans to gather for worship, the political climate in America has started to grow unfriendly towards religious freedom. Now more than ever before, Americans need to vote for a president who will make it his mission to uphold religious liberty.

Trump is that president. The greatness of America lies in the character of our people — the simple virtues of faith, hard work, family and personal responsibility. We urge North Carolina residents to vote in support of these values, and in support of religious freedom, this fall.

(Faith & Freedom Coalition is a social conservative political advocacy 501 non-profit organization that fights for religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and limited government that acknowledges the God-given rights of individuals. Timothy Head is the Executive Director for the Faith & Freedom Coalition; and, Jason Williams is Executive Director for the North Carolina Faith and Freedom Coalition)