National Religious Broadcasters thanked President Donald Trump for prioritizing First Amendment freedoms and taking first steps to change our nation's trajectory through executive action at the White House today. He also commented on a meeting with senior White House staff regarding persecution.

Dr. Jerry A. Johnson, NRB President & CEO, issued the following statement after attending the Rose Garden ceremony for the National Day of Prayer at which the President signed the executive order:

"President Trump deserves praise for applying an emergency brake on the government's movement toward coercion and discrimination. There is much that is commendable in the executive order, even while there is much that is missing - and that I pray will be soon addressed. Today's action is a breath of fresh air and should be understood, I believe, as a first step toward righting the wrongs of recent years and reassuring people of faith that they are not second-class citizens.

"For a number of years, the value of religious beliefs and their free expression in daily life was at best an afterthought for many political and corporate elites, and - even worse - the subject of attack. The treatment of Hobby Lobby and Little Sisters of the Poor was the tip of the iceberg as examples of such hostility when one's faith did not fall in line with the dogma of the radical Left.

"I am pleased that the President is taking steps to re-establish religious liberty as a priority that should be high in the minds of government officials. Individuals and organizations should not be coerced because of their biblical beliefs on marriage, the sanctity of life, and other values they hold dear.

"Moreover, ministries should know they will not be targeted by the IRS for speaking their minds in the normal course of doing ministry. I'm pleased the President is taking the initiative to move toward removing the shackles of the Johnson Amendment. Congress should now pass the Free Speech Fairness Act. It should never be the government's business to limit the speech of pastors.

"I pray today's action by the White House will set a new tone nationwide honoring the value of religious free expression and ending an embrace of intolerance and discrimination against people of faith.

"Finally, I was pleased to have been invited to meet today with senior White House national security staff to discuss ways for our nation to be more active in defending people of faith around the world. Surely, there is much to be done in combating persecution and genocide."

Earlier this year, the NRB Board of Directors unanimously approved a resolution urging "that the U.S. Government must faithfully preserve, protect, and defend the U.S. Constitution's guarantee that all citizens are free to speak and free to exercise the tenets of their faith in daily life." 

About NRB

The National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) is a nonpartisan, international association of Christian communicators whose member organizations represent millions of listeners, viewers, and readers. Our mission is to advance biblical truth, promote media excellence, and defend free speech. In addition to promoting standards of excellence, integrity, and accountability, NRB provides networking, educational, ministry, and fellowship opportunities for its members. Learn more at www.nrb.org.

About the NRB Convention

The annual NRB International Christian Media Convention is the largest nationally and internationally recognized event dedicated solely to assist those in the field of Christian communications. The dynamic Exposition consists of around 200 companies and is an active marketplace for those seeking tools and services to expand their organizations. The next Convention, Proclaim 18, will be held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, February 27-March 2, 2018. For more information, go to www.nrbconvention.org.