Orrin Hatch: “Last week I came to the floor to speak on the subject of religious liberty in America. I explained why religious liberty…”

“Last week I came to the floor to speak on the subject of religious liberty in America. I explained why religious liberty matters, why it is important, and why it deserves special protection from government interference. I also used my remarks to welcome Pope Francis to Washington and to recognize the historic nature of his visit. I was struck by the Pope's emphasis on religious liberty while he was here and by his concern for the state of religious liberty, not just around the world, but in the United States as well. In his address at the White House, Pope Francis said that many American Catholics are ``concerned that efforts to build a just and wisely ordered society respect . . . the right to religious liberty,'' and he called on all Americans to ``be vigilant . . . to preserve and defend [religious] freedom from everything that would threaten or compromise it.'' Before Congress, Pope Francis, spoke of the delicate balance required to combat violence and extremism while at the same time safeguarding religious liberty. And in Philadelphia, he declared that the right of religious exercise extends well beyond the church door. He said: Religious freedom certainly means the right to worship God, individually and in community, as consciences dictate. But religious liberty, by its nature, transcends places of worship and the private sphere of individuals and families. Like Pope Francis, I too am concerned about threats to religious freedom in the United States.…”