White House Names Religious Leaders to New Liberty Commission
The White House used the National Day of Prayer last week to announce the inaugural members of the newly created Religious Liberty Commission. The list includes many of the leading figures in the nation’s religious life.
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (chair). Dan Patrick was elected in 2014 and reelected in 2018 and 2022. He led the Texas Senate in passing legislation to end the teaching of critical race theory in public schools, abolish DEI practices in universities, place “In God We Trust” in the Texas Senate and add “Under God” to the state pledge of allegiance. Patrick wrote “The Second Most Important Book You Will Ever Read,” a challenge to read the most important book ever written, the Bible.
Dr. Ben Carson (vice chair). Rising from poverty to become one of the most renowned pediatric neurosurgeons in the world, Ben Carson served as secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the first Trump Administration.
Ryan T. Anderson, Ph.D. Ryan Anderson is president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center. He is the author or coauthor of five books, including several related to religious liberty. Anderson serves as the John Paul II Teaching Fellow in Social Thought at the University of Dallas.
Bishop Robert Barron. Author, speaker and theologian Robert Barron reaches millions of people around the world through his Word on Fire ministry, a Catholic media nonprofit that produces podcasts, videos, books, articles and gospel meditations.
Carrie Prejean Boller. Former Miss California USA and Miss USA first runner-up in 2009, Boller is the author of “Still Standing: The Untold Story of My Fight Against Gossip, Hate and Political Attacks.”
Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Timothy Dolan is archbishop of New York. A member of the board of trustees of The Catholic University of America, Dolan previously served as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and completed terms as chair of the Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life activities and the Bishops’ Committee for Religious Liberty.
Pastor Franklin Graham is president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, an organization that provides disaster relief and medical aid around the globe.
Allyson Ho. Allyson Ho has established herself as one of the United States’ premier appellate lawyers. She has presented more than 100 oral arguments in federal and state courts nationwide, including five cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Dr. Phil McGraw. The longtime host of “Dr. Phil” and a bestselling author, McGraw holds a doctorate in psychology. His most recent book, “We’ve Got Issues: How You Can Stand Strong for America’s Soul and Sanity,” encourages Americans to reclaim the principles of hard work, independence, faith and ingenuity.
Eric Metaxas. Writer, speaker and radio host Eric Metaxas has written dozens of books, including the national bestseller, “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.” He has testified before Congress on the global rise of antisemitism and been awarded the Canterbury Medal by the Becket Fund for Religious Freedom.
Kelly Shackelford. President and CEO of First Liberty Institute, Shackelford is a constitutional scholar who has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, winning numerous landmark religious liberty cases.
Rabbi Meir Soloveichik. Meir Soloveichik is rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel, the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States. He also serves as the director of the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University.
Paula White is founder and president of Paula White Ministries and the National Faith Advisory Board. She was an advisor to President Donald Trump in the Faith and Opportunity Initiative during his first term in office and now serves as senior advisor to the White House Faith Office.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice
