Thomas Farr, President of the Religious Freedom Institute, joined forces with a broad coalition of leaders from across the religious, ideological, and political spectrum to defend the right of all Americans to participate in the political life of their nation without being labeled – especially by their own government – as bigots because of their religious views. In a letter to President Barack Obama, House Speaker Paul Ryan, and Senate President Pro Tempore Orrin Hatch, Farr and the other signatories ask them to reject publicly the statements of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and its Chairman that “religious liberty” and “religious freedom” are “code words” for intolerance.

The letter and coalition, led by Farr and RFI, attracted support from a diverse group of leaders including: Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Baha’i, Mormon, Evangelical and Catholic, and non-religious organizations. There may be few areas of agreement between all the signatories of the letter, except for the fundamental belief that all voices are invited into the public square. 

Read RFI’s Press Release and see the full text of the letter: RFI Joins Broad Coalition to Condemn Government Sanctioned Discrimination

Religious Leaders Demand President Ensure No American Be Labeled Bigoted For Their Faith (Townhall)

Why religious leaders asked Obama to condemn his civil rights chair’s rhetoric (Catholic News Agency)

Faith leaders, including LDS presiding bishop, call on Obama, Congress to reject controversial religious liberty report (Deseret News)