RFI Commends Bishop Michael Burbidge for Exercising His Faith in Political Life

October 15, 2026, Washington, D.C. – The Religious Freedom Institute (RFI) commends the Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, for his sustained leadership in bringing his Catholic convictions into public life.

In an open letter, RFI President David Trimble and RFI President Emeritus Tom Farr point to Bishop Burbidge’s recent statements in opposition to Virginia’s proposed constitutional amendments on abortion and marriage. “His efforts,” they write, “affirm religious communities’ legitimate place in public life and their responsibility to make contributions to the common good – as intended by America’s Founders.”

Trimble and Farr further state:

Debates concerning life, marriage, and the family draw upon convictions central to many religions. The free exercise of religion in America allows religious leaders and believers to enter the political arena with their religious truth claims about morality, justice, and the common good.

RFI has long argued that

religious freedom includes the right of religious individuals, institutions, and communities to express religious truths in their private lives, and to bring those truths into political life through their respective claims about justice, peace, equality, and freedom, and to seek the agreement of their fellow citizens on a basis equal to all others in society.

This is precisely what Bishop Burbidge has been doing in response to these lamentable proposed Constitutional amendments in Virginia. Trimble and Farr conclude their letter applauding

Bishop Burbidge for his clarity, his courage, and his contribution to the Constitutional right of religious free exercise. RFI welcomes the opportunity to work with His Excellency and with other religious and civic leaders to ensure that religious communities can contribute fully to our common life. We pledge our solidarity in that work throughout this election season and beyond.

Read the open letter.

The Religious Freedom Institute (RFI) works to secure religious freedom for everyone, everywhere. RFI is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C.