WASHINGTON–On Friday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions
issued a memorandum for all executive departments and agencies on the subject
of “Federal Law Protections for Religious Liberty”. Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore,
Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has offered the following statement in
response:

“The Attorney General’s guidance helpfully reaffirms
that the law protects the freedom of faith-based organizations to conduct their
operations in accordance with their religious mission. The guidance also reaffirms that the federal
government should never exclude religious organizations from competing on an
equal footing for government grants or contracts, and religious entities should
never be forced to change their religious character in order to participate in
such programs. We appreciate the
Attorney General’s clarification of these matters, which will protect
faith-based organizations’ freedom to serve all those in need, including the
homeless, immigrants, refugees, and students attending religious schools.”

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Keywords: Archbishop William Lori, U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, U.S. Department of
Justice, religious liberty, religious freedom

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Media Contact:
Judy Keane
202-541-3200

Source:: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops