The White House
announced on Wednesday that President Trump will nominate Kansas Governor Samuel Brownback to be Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom. Before becoming governor, Brownback served for 15 years as U.S. senator where he was a key sponsor of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. Reactions to Brownback's nomination varied. In a
press release, the ACLU said in part:
... throughout his tumultuous tenure, Gov. Brownback worked tirelessly to erode the protections that the First Amendment affords for the separation of church and state. More troubling, Gov. Brownback has been one of the nation's leading proponents of the notion that people, businesses, and even governments should be able to discriminate against others because of their own religious beliefs.
On the other hand, Liberty Counsel's
press release applauded the nomination, saying in part:
Innocent people around the world are imprisoned, tortured, and persecuted for their faith. Christians and religious minorities are suffering more persecution than at any time in history. Gov. Brownback has proven that he will fight for religious freedom and will do an excellent job defending this sacred freedom around the world.
New York Times reported on the President's choice.
