US VP Mike Pence threatens Turkey over detained US pastor at religious freedom summit
RNS Vice President Mike Pence used a State Department summit of foreign ministers and religious leaders to call on Turkey to release US pastor Andrew Brunson and threatened the country with sanctions if it did not. “If Turkey does not take immediate action to free this innocent man of faith and send him home to […]
ESSAY: A RELIGIOUS FREEDOM SUMMIT CAN’T UNDO TRUMP’S RECORD ON ISLAM
In an article first published on Religion News Service, JACOB LUPFER, a US commentator on religion and politics, says it is critical gatherings like this week’s Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom hold the White House to account for its failures to stand up for everyone affected by religious persecution…
US religious freedom summit opens with plea to fight persecution
RNS US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback opened a summit at the State Department this week by urging leaders from a range of faiths to work together to help the persecuted across the globe. “We need your faith in action to move the world to not just tolerance of differences – although that’s […]
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says Trump-Putin summit helps with religious freedom push
RNS Russia dominated the discussion on a telephone conference call with reporters and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday morning about next week’s meeting in Washington of government officials, religious leaders and representatives of nonprofit organisations to talk about international religious freedom. Asked about reports this week of Russian efforts to infiltrate American religious groups, even while […]