Subsequent whistleblower complaint. At 9 30 a. M. , Family ResearchCouncil Center for religious freedom policies. Ravis weber host good morning. It is tuesday, september 24, 2019. President trump is in new york city where he will address the United NationsGeneral Assembly. President trump became the First American president to convene a meeting on the issue of religious freedom and on the washington journal, we will begin on the topic of religion. We are asking your view of religion and public life. The phone number to call this morning, 2027488000. If you think religion doesnt play a large enough role, 2027488001. If you think american politics and civics gets that balance about right, 2027488002 is the number to call. You can also text us your thoughts. If you do, please include where you are from and your name. That number, 2027488003. On twitter it is cspanwj. On facebook it is facebook. Com cspan. Very good tuesday morning, you can start calling in now. We are talking about the separation of church and state, the president was talking about religious freedom around the world when he convened that meeting yesterday. Here is the headline in the Washington Times, trump calls on u. N. To end religious persecution. He says the organization has an ofent duty to protect people faith, here is the president from yesterday. [video clip] the United States is founded on the principle that our right do not come from government, god. Come from they are enshrined in the First Amendment to our constitutions bill of rights. Our founders understood no right is more fundamental to a peaceful, prosperous, and Virtuous Society than the 1 to ones religious liberties a proximally 80 of the worlds populations live in countries where religious liberty is threatened, restricted, or even banned. Saidi heard that number, i please go back and check it because it cannot possibly be. Orrect and sadly, it was 80 . As we speak, jews, christians, muslims, buddhists, hindus, and many other people of faith are being jailed, sanctioned, tortured, and murdered at the hands of their own government simply for expressing their. Eeply held religious beliefs so hard to believe. With one clear voice, the United States of america calls upon the nations of the world to end religious persecution. Among the actions and the announcements the president made, more reporting from the stop theimes destruction of religious sites. He also said his fight religious persecution. This morning on the washington journal, asking your opinion on the role of religion in public life. Do you think it plays too much of a role . Not enough role . Phone numbers for each of those, you can start calling now. Some reaction to the president s comments at the United Nations. Their tweet yesterday saying it was hypocrisy at its finest. President trump held a panel of global religious persecution at the u. N. Basice, he is stripping human rights from lgbtq women. One of the main tools critics worry is being misused when it comes to religious freedom is the religious freedom restoration act and that is the subject of criticism by members of congress and how President Trump has used it since he has been in office. This is the story from earlier this year about efforts to reshape the religious freedom restoration act. Congressional democrats in march thatroduced an amendment aims to ensure the 1993 red legislation is not used to permit discrimination in the name of religion. It is called the do no harm act and it was reintroduced by Joseph Kennedy of massachusetts. Senator Kamala Harris of introduced rst Hobby Lobby Stores decision. Under the religious freedom restoration act, for Profit Companies could deny Insurance Coverage for contraception if it was against their employer possible religious beliefs. This is the statement congressman bobby scott put out n the do no harm act a response tot as a Supreme Court case which under of religious majorities. Bad faith interpretations have been used to deny Health Care Coverage for employees claimed exemption to civil rights law and repeat justice in child labor and abuse case read it with the man them to clarify no one can cite religious beliefs to undermine protections and refuse services to minority populations. This bill would restore the original intent and ensure religious freedom is only used as a shield to protect individuals and not as a sword to cut down the rights of others. Talking this morning about your view about the role of religion in public life. Do you think it plays too much of a role, not enough role, do you think we get the balance right in america . Phone lines for all those views. We start with elaine in missouri, thinks it plays too much of a role. Why is that, elaine . Caller thank you so much for taking my comment. Although i love god, just the usage of that term puts christianity above other religions. Men have said allah. Hat god is above he seems insincere. I think it was a slap in gods face he did not attend the Climate Summit with an open convened atstead this socalled religious summit. Host why do you think that was a slap that god . Caller god is inclusive and god wants us to protect to the earth. As i am going to take people away from the Climate Summit so that i can talk about religious freedom and he cant even pronounce the words the chapters of the bible. I have heard him before mispronouncing something. It is just a farce. I think when i go to political meetings yes, political meetings and they open with prayer and they are just praying to one god, that is not inclusive of all of us. Host that is elaine in missouri on the issue of the timing of this religious freedom meeting President Trump convened. It did convene it during a forum on climate, that Climate Summit that took place on monday although the president did drop by the climate event for what was time that 14 minutes. Here is three scenes from the president dropping by that Climate Summit during those 14 minutes. This is the president at his desk listening to the address of and thenthat climate the picture from the New York Times of the president walking out, leaving after staying 14 minutes. One more from the Washington Post, their picture showing greta thunberg, who has been a focus of climate activities at the u. N. This week and their presence in the United States since last week, watching President Trump in new york after stopping by the Climate Summit. Getting your thoughts on the role of religion in public life. Karen in texas thinks it doesnt play enough of overall. Why is that of a role, why is that . Caller i think we should put prayer back in school. Morgan freeman did an excellent series on religion and their views about god. Basically, we all believe in god. Is woman prior to me, nobody choosing one god over another. We all believe in one god, we just believe in different ways. I think we should put prayer back in children. We have movies and tv shows where it is ok to commit any sin in the world for one night a year and then they think that is ok and they wonder why our kids are messed up . That is our entertainment, watching people do whatever they want one night a year and get away with it . That is sending a very bad message to our kids and then we wonder why these kids are losing it and walking in school and shooting people. They just saw a tv show where it said it was ok to do this one day a year. Religione need more back. Host the Pew Research Center with some of their research about views on religion. Roughly 4 in 10 americans say they are very worried about the nations morals while another 34 are fairly worried about it. For republicans, the countrys moral health is a major concern. When they think about our countrys future, they are worried about the moral values. Worried. Are equally women are more concerned about the countrys morals than men while Older Americans are more worried than those younger than 50. 49 of Older Americans worried versus 37 of those under 50. Margaret in texas, thanks religion plays too much of a role. Why is that . Caller good morning. I taught the constitution for it, oners and teaching has to look into the background, the writings of the Founding Fathers and so on and we have to realize the constitution is not a godgiven document, it is a. Anmade document even before the constitution was written, hamilton was warning about having religion in the constitution and thomas payne, George Washingtons very good friend did not believe in any religion at all. Washington said religion must stay out of the constitution because there was never anything else that had caused so much strife in the world than differences of religion and, of course, franklin and jefferson were not christians. I find that really alarming when people talk about the constitution being a religious christian document. , john adams in 1821, when he signed the treaty with tripoli to end the war, within that treaty, it states unequivocally that the United States is not a christian nation. Host as somebody who has thought a lot about this, how do you feel about the declaration of independence . We hold these truths to be selfevident that it all men are created equal, endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. Caller who are the men created equal at that time . They were landowners and they were white. God, what about the use of the creator in there . That is not in the constitution. That is something that was put into the bill of rights. They are not professing any particular religion anyway. Creator. Saying the i find it very hypocritical of to talk about bans muslim, he the way he talks about other religions and what he is professing is what he says is basically a christian religion and look at his behavior. His behavior is not appropriate for the tenets of a christian religion. I say keep religion out. Host that is margaret in texas. You might be interested in this Washington Post column. His column back from this spring amid this discussion about the religious freedom restoration act and President Trumps policies when it comes to religion. Trumpss president perception of religious liberty adds freedom only for the faiths he prefers. What if some future leader used mormonism as incompatible with american democracy or protestantism . Eitherus freedom is rigorously equal or it becomes an instrument of those in power to favor or disfavor religions of their choice. Robert thanks religion doesnt play enough of a role in public life. Ood morning caller there is a lot to say about the lady from texas. I am happy she is not my history teacher. Establishing this nation was to get away from old europe was a stateicism religion and they left here to establish religious freedom. As a matter of fact, our third president , i believe said our constitution was for a moral society and wholly inadequate for another. With freedom called morality. You have to have a moral society. People are wondering why we are having these mass shootings, it is not because of the government , it is because of the immorality. Host what does the separation of church and state mean to you. No denomination will put one president over another. As far as Christian Society, they agreed upon that and that is why in the declaration of independence, all of our rights come from god, not the government it i wish people would go back to studying history and i wish this government would get out of our Public Schools so they could go back to prayer. Host did you say they thought it should be a Christian Society or a religious or moral society . Upler moral society backed by christianity. Moral andeved christian. They must understand when they assimilate to our nation, our laws, our rules, our culture, it is a christian basis. Host what about the role of muslims and hindus in American Society . Accept christianity as our culture, fine. They can practice their faith. When they want to change our society, i have a problem with that. In maryland says we get the balance about right. Go ahead. Think we have it about right. You can choice choose to have your choice of what you want to believe in or not believe in. I think that is fair. Not to say i dont think we should remember that in my experience, going to church or isple or whatever you go to a part of banding together as a community that serves a purpose ,ot only to praise your deity but also to learn to be with others within your community, which makes for a stronger society, i feel. I think in america, i really dont think weather you are a hindu or islamic or jewish or , iistian or whatever, mormon think we can all follow the constitution of the United States and not keep debating weather it is judeochristian or not. It is still our constitution and i feel that as long as we, as a people are on the way of morality, i personally feel need for that and i think you get that from the family unit and the family manners that you are taught, which may decrease violence and the ability to communicate with one another and another place to reinforce that is in the church or the temple or whatever you go to. That is all i have to say. Host 30 years from now or 50 years from now, do you think religion is going to be as important to americans . Caller unfortunately, i dont think so. Host why . Feel theeally do christian era has come and i taught morality throughout the world and people now have more confidence in themselves and we are trying to care about what is happening on the other side of the world and not just your own backyard. I think all of that has done us well. Just dont think people will be that into religion as we go forward strife. It causes such we dont have time for all the strife that religious extremists always bring to the forefront. Host her opinion on the future of religion, how important it will be. This from the pew research poll, weatheric divided over religion will become more important. Half say religion will lose importance while 42 say it will remain unchanged. Only a third of blacks and 4 in 10 hispanics say the importance of religion will decline. Adults with more formal education are more likely to see religion in a clips than those with less and the story notes among religious groups, roughly equal shares of white evangelicals, mainstream protestants, and catholics say religion will be less important in the future. Host suzanne is in texas, says religion plays too much of a role in public life today. Why is that . Caller because every time i turn around here in texas, they open every meeting with a prayer. I dont care what your religion is, keep it to yourself. Religion belongs in church. I open my paper, i find a at the end thingy of the editorials. The president is a hypocrite and evangelicals are a hypocrite for voting for him. Ment tired of religious telling me what i can do with my lady parts all behind their religion. I am sick to death of religion everywhere and it is nobodys business what your religion is. Keep it to yourself or in church, your temple. Host john says we get the balance about right. Go ahead, john. Caller yes. I watched this president and i think his role is about right. That heng tv evangelist surrounds himself with. Evangelistsl tv that always want your money. They always have some kind of way to swindle you out of your money. Host that is john in pennsylvania. This is allen in little rock, says religion doesnt play enough of a role. Caller good morning. Just to pick up from the first caller, dear lady that was story teacher. A i would like to say i am very personally, deeply acquainted with someone that has probably a longer history of teaching the constitution and declaration of independence than she does, so let me add a couple important characteristics. There are four references to god in the declaration of independence, not just the 1. There is natures god, creator, then supreme judge, all those proper name capitalized in the handwritten original version. And then the very last sentence reads like a prayer, reads like the president for the pledge of allegiance and says with a Firm Reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, divine lowercase as an adjective describing proper name providence reference to god. The fourth reference to god in the declaration of independence and it reads on like we are relying on god for our country. There is our first statement in the declaration of independence and then it proceeds on to describe 27 abuses of the king of england, the reason why we are declaring this independence, to be free of this authoritarian initialnd from those years, we failed to get along with each other. Kind of like what is going on today. This whole idea of bringing the president back in scares them to death because they say we just nought to get free of a authoritarian king and they are talking about a president so they want to decide what will help us protect against an authoritarian . The point of the constitution is to help the states get along and protect against an authoritarian. What is an authoritarian going to do . They said lets look at what we know and authoritarian will do, like the king of england and they look at these 29 abuses listed in the declaration of independence. I never hear anyone discussing them. The majority of the declaration of independence and they say, how, in the future, can we pr