We are writing to express concern about House Resolution 59, which seeks to have the government condemn a religious message, spoken freely and in a house of worship.

On February 6, President Trump announced plans to create a federal office to oppose what he terms anti-Christian bias in the government. According to a report by Reuters, Trump said, “The mission of this task force will be to immediately halt all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government, including at the DOJ, which was absolutely terrible, the IRS, the FBI and other agencies.” He vowed his attorney general would work to “fully prosecute anti-Christian violence and vandalism in our society and to move heaven and earth to defend the rights of Christians and religious believers nationwide.”

Although we are pleased to see the phrase “and religious believers” added by the President, we wonder if enforcement would protect the freedoms of all religious traditions, and not just of those Christians favored by the President. A report by the FBI for year 2023 found that 60% of religious-based hate crimes were against Jews, 13% were against Muslims, and 8% were against Christians.

We see an irony in the President’s proposal, at a time when many of his supporters in Congress have introduced H Res 59 to condemn a sermon by Bishop Mariann Budde. The sermon advocated unity and compassion in our government, and it acknowledged the people in our land who are afraid for what their future may hold. As lifelong members of a Christian Church, we understand that compassion for all, especially for “the least of these thy brethren,” is among the most fundamental of Christian teachings. (We note parenthetically that many other religious faiths share these core values. So do many individuals who may not identify with any religious group.)

Bishop Budde’s sermon was an eloquent and direct plea for Christian values, and it is consistent with her teachings throughout her career as a church leader. Does not H Res 59 conflict with the “free exercise clause” of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution?

Given our country’s promise of religious freedom for everyone, we recognize people will not always agree on matters of faith, even within the same faith tradition. But one need not agree with Bishop Budde’s message to oppose H Res 59. That resolution permits the government to decide what is acceptable in matters of religion. It is the role of our faith communities, not the government, to decide what is right in matters of their faith.

We urge voters to contact elected officials in Congress, asking them to oppose this resolution and to uphold our country’s tradition of religious freedom.

John and Amy Emerson

Middlebury