President Trump bolsters religious freedom with powerful Catholic appointees to the Religious Liberty Commission’s Advisory Board, signaling a renewed commitment to defending faith in America.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump appointed three U.S. Catholic bishops and a parish priest to the Religious Liberty Commission’s advisory board, demonstrating his commitment to protecting religious freedoms.
- The appointees include Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, and Father Thomas Ferguson, all with significant experience in religious liberty advocacy.
- The commission’s Advisory Board includes 13 religious leaders and additional legal and lay advisers who will produce a comprehensive report on religious liberty foundations, threats, and protection strategies.
- These appointments come at a critical time when faith-based organizations face challenges such as restrictions on immigration services and rising antisemitic incidents across the country.
Strategic Catholic Leadership Appointments
President Trump has made a significant move in the defense of religious liberty by appointing three prominent U.S. Catholic bishops and a parish priest to serve on an advisory board for the Religious Liberty Commission. The appointments include Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco, Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, and Father Thomas Ferguson, a priest of the Arlington Diocese. These selections represent a strategic assembly of religious leaders with extensive experience defending faith-based rights and addressing religious freedom concerns.
Bishop Rhoades brings particular expertise as the current chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Religious Liberty. His leadership extends to other significant committees, including the Committee on Doctrine and the National Advisory Council. Bishop Paprocki, who chairs the USCCB’s Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance, previously initiated the important “Fortnight for Freedom” campaign that highlighted threats to religious liberty. Archbishop Cordileone brings valuable perspective from his work with the USCCB’s Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth.
Comprehensive Advisory Structure
The Religious Liberty Commission is being supported by a robust multi-tiered advisory structure that demonstrates President Trump’s serious commitment to protecting faith in America. Beyond the newly appointed Catholic leaders, the commission’s Advisory Board of Religious Leaders includes a total of 13 members from various faith backgrounds. Other notable Catholic members include Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York and Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, known for his influential Catholic media presence through Word on Fire ministries.
The commission’s work extends beyond religious leadership with the appointment of six distinguished legal advisers and nine lay leader advisers, creating a comprehensive approach to addressing religious liberty concerns. This diverse group of advisers represents President Trump’s dedication to ensuring that religious freedom protections are informed by various perspectives and expertise. The commission aims to produce a substantive report examining the foundations of religious liberty, current threats, and strategies for protecting these essential freedoms.
Addressing Critical Religious Liberty Challenges
The timing of these appointments aligns with growing concerns identified in the U.S. bishops’ 2025 report on religious freedom. The report highlighted several pressing issues, including government restrictions on faith-based immigration services, a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents across the country, and challenges to parental choice in education. These appointments demonstrate President Trump’s recognition of the escalating threats to religious expression and practice in American society.
Father Ferguson’s appointment brings additional scholarly depth to the advisory board. As the author of a book on John Courtney Murray, a Jesuit priest and theologian who significantly influenced Catholic thought on religious liberty, Ferguson contributes valuable theological and historical perspective to the commission’s work. This intellectual foundation will be crucial as the commission develops comprehensive recommendations for protecting religious liberties against government overreach and cultural opposition.
President Trump’s formation of this commission with its robust advisory structure reflects a fundamental commitment to preserving America’s tradition of religious freedom. By assembling respected religious leaders, legal experts, and lay advocates, the administration is prioritizing the protection of faith communities and their right to practice according to their beliefs. The commission’s forthcoming report will likely serve as a blueprint for defending religious liberties for generations to come.
