The US Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom has called for politicians to work more closely together towards greater religious freedom around the world, reports the Catholic News Agency.
“We are at a critical moment for the future of religious minorities globally. It is more dangerous now than any time in history to be a person of faith,” Sam Brownback told a conference hosted by US think-tank The Heritage Foundation.
Brownback, 61, was confirmed as Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom in January. He is the fifth person to hold the post since it was created in 1998.
He told the event, which marked the two-year anniversary of US recognition that the Islamic State group committed genocide against religious minorities, that religious freedom should be advanced in US national security policy, assistance programmes, and economic strategies, adding that he “would like to see religious freedom be for this administration what climate change was for the last”.
Meanwhile US analysts are waiting to see how much Rex Tillerson’s replacement as Secretary of State will engage with religious freedom.
Tom Farr, president of the Religious Freedom Institute, expressed confidence that former CIA director Mike Pompeo will embrace his brief.
“Pompeo will have a clear understanding of the security threats the country confronts and may be more open than his predecessor to the growing evidence that religious freedom is critical for combating religion-related terrorism, maintaining political and social stability, and supporting economic growth,” Farr told Christianity Today.