The Trump administration has instructed the State Department to compile tip sheets on cases of “anti-Christian bias” within its workforce. This effort is the direct result of an executive order to combat what Christians view as discrimination against them by federal agencies. The directive mandates that the State Department collaborate with an administration-wide task force to compile information regarding anti-religious bias that may have emerged during the previous administration.
The task force will meet next on or about April 22 to discuss its preliminary recommendations. Employees will be invited to send examples of anti-Christian bias anonymously through these new specific report forms. The purpose of this data collection is to help fulfill the data collection requirements set forth in the executive order. This executive order requires all federal agencies to find and root out anti-Christian bias in their operations and programs.
Now an internal State Department memorandum obtained by U.S. For internal use, it seeks to combat “anti-religious bias of every kind.” The executive order did not directly bring about the task force’s creation. Its stated mission is to end discrimination against Christians in the federal workforce.
The announcement has still drawn sharp criticism from even more unlikely quarters—including religious organizations like the Interfaith Alliance. They claim that the purpose is enforcing stigma against Christians, in particular Catholics. This approach only serves to create a culture of fear in employees.
“This effort may appear to address certain forms of stigma against Christians, particularly against Catholics. In reality, it will weaponize a narrow understanding of religious freedom to legitimize discrimination against marginalized groups like the LGBTQ community.” – Interfaith Alliance
That last part is what took State Department officials by shock and alarm. They responded by the cable sent to U.S. embassies around the globe under Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s constitutional jurisdiction. These officials contend that the directive, well-intentioned, is ultimately based on a misguided premise. Second, they argue it misleadingly alleges that there is a widespread anti-Christian bias in the department.
Moreover, they cautioned that this effort could put undue duress on staff to inform on co-workers. This has the potential to create toxic work environments, damaging workplace relationships and decreasing morale. Additionally, critics underscored fears that this model would misapply the principle of religious freedom and mistakenly fuel discrimination against marginalized communities.
The State Department spokesman did not respond to repeated requests for comment. We’re excited to see how the initiative develops and what it means for the future.
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