Religious right blessed by Trump-Pence
Evangelicals see gains in the first year of Trump administration
WASHINGTON – A year after President Trump moved into the White House, many of the Christian conservatives who helped put him there are counting their blessings.
Johnnie Moore, an informal spokesman for the group of evangelicals who advise Trump, says the administration has “been a dream.”
Jim Daly, the head of Focus on the Family, estimates the administration has taken about 17 actions on the prolife agenda alone — a tally he said adds up to the greatest gains by an administration since the Supreme Court legalized abortion.
And Paula White, a televangelist and spiritual adviser to Trump, calls the president’s first year of accomplishments “absolutely astounding.”
It’s not just leaders of the Christian conservative community who think Trump has been delivering on his promises to them — from judicial appointments to policy changes, and from personnel appointments to access to the White House. Those opposed to some of the moves agree the group’s list of wins is lengthy.
“It seems to me as though Trump really has worked hard to give the ... evangelical pastors he’s been working closely with whatever they’ve been asking for,” said Maggie Garrett, legislative director for Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
The twice-divorced Trump, who recorded years ago bragging about groping women, was an unlikely champion for the religious right.
But religious conservatives had high hopes for their agenda once Trump chose Christian conservative Mike Pence as his running mate and promised that the “first priority of my administration will be to preserve and protect our religious liberty.”
Trump got a good reason on Election Day to keep his word: 81% of white evangelicals voted for Trump.
“God must have a sense of humor,” said Ralph Reed, chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition who considers himself a friend of Trump’s. “Because for Donald Trump to have emerged as one of the great advocates for the agenda of evangelicals and social conservatives is something that very few would have predicted even a few years ago.” The list of victories includes:
❚ Judicial appointments: In addition to appointing Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, Trump placed a firstyear record of 12 justices on the U.S. Court of Appeals, in addition to six district court judges. “His record on judicial nominees has been one of the most impressive ... that we’ve had out of any president,” said Reed.
❚ Anti-abortion actions: Trump’s steps included expanding a policy first adopted by GOP presidents in 1984 to prohibit U.S. aid from supporting international groups that promote abortion. Vice President Pence was the highestranked administration figure to speak at the March for Life anti-abortion rally last year. Trump addressed this year’s march Friday from the White House.
❚ Elevating religious protections: After Trump signed an executive order to “protect religious liberty,” the Justice Department issued new guidance aimed at giving religious groups and individuals broad protections to express their beliefs when they come into conflict with government regulations, including when making hiring decisions. The Health and Human Services De--
partment on Thursday announced a new division aimed at protecting doctors and other medical professionals who don’t want to perform abortions, treat transgender patients or take part in other types of care that go against their beliefs. While opponents say the administration is allowing religion to be used as an excuse for discriminating, Moore says Trump has demonstrated that “you don’t have to check your belief system at the door to have a cooperative and beneficial relationship with the federal government.”
❚ Weighing in on Supreme Court case: The Justice Department sided with the Colorado baker who refused to design a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, a case pending before the Supreme Court. The administration didn’t have to get involved, noted Curt Smith, whose Indiana Family Institute filed a brief in support of the baker.
❚ Recognizing Jerusalem as capital of Israel: Evangelicals’ support for Israel stems in part from passages in the Bible they say show that God promised Israel to the Jewish people and that God blesses those who bless the Jews. Some also believe that Jewish possession of Jerusalem is necessary for the prophesized second coming of Jesus.
❚ Allowing federal money to pay to rebuild churches: The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently said houses of worship can receive federal dollars to rebuild after natural disasters. “The Constitution is pretty clear that the government doesn’t build houses of worship,” said Garrett of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. But after Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in September, Trump tweeted that churches should get FEMA funds “just like others.”
In all, Moore argues the Trump administration has done more for evangelicals than any recent administration.
“The general perception is that President Trump has granted more access. He has given greater priority to issues of concern to the community,” said Moore. “Probably the only people the president has spoken to more frequently than Congress and the world’s leaders are Christian leaders in this country.”