Task Force Hears ‘Victims’ Stories’ of Religious Discrimination
Behind closed doors, the task force next heard what AG Bondi called “victims’ stories” of anti-Christian bias. First Amendment Attorney Michael Farris said the Internal Revenue Service unfairly investigated Virginia Pastor Gary Hamrick and charged him with violating the Johnson Amendment.
Liberty University Provost Scott Hicks said the Biden administration unfairly singled out his school and Grand Canyon University with religion-based fines. Navy Seal Phil Mendes told task force members he was fired for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, after the Defense Department denied his religious exemption request.
Next, senior Cabinet officials spoke about “specific cases within their own agencies” where the Biden administration allegedly targeted Christians for their faith. FBI Director Kash Patel spoke about the bureau’s Richmond Field Office issuing an “anti-Catholic” memo.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of Health and Human Services, accused the Biden administration of trying to make it more difficult for Christians to become foster parents. He also noted that a faith-based hospital in Oklahoma was told to extinguish a sanctuary candle or else lose its government funding.
Michael Faulkender, deputy Treasury secretary, said the previous administration conducted financial surveillance against Christian and pro-life groups, failed to protect those organizations from “debanking,” and labeled some Christian groups as hate groups.
More Allegations of Previous Anti-Christian Bias
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told task force members that some Foreign Service Officers were threatened for choosing to homeschool their children. He also said some State Department employees were vilified for not taking the COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds; others allegedly faced retaliation for opposing LGBTQ+ protections and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) efforts.
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Under the Biden administration, Rubio alleged, U.S. embassies were allowed to celebrate non-Christian religious holidays with no restrictions, while Christian holidays were watered down faith-wise.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon pointed to anti-Christian bias related to gender-identity policies. Two Oregon teachers were unfairly terminated, she said, for launching a movement to protect parental rights. McMahon also cited a New York middle school that “socially transitioned” a student without parental consent.
Vince Haley, director of the Domestic Policy Council, listed examples of previous leaders pushing “radical and anti-Christian gender identity on kids in classrooms, foster care, sports, and health care.”
According to Doug Collins, secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) and a former Baptist pastor, the VA ended the “speech code” used to punish a Pennsylvania chaplain for preaching a Bible-based sermon.