By Brian Grim
On Friday, I had the honor of participating in the White House celebration of National Religious Freedom Day. It was the first time the celebration was combined with the naturalization of new US citizens at the White House.
The celebration coincided with the annual proclamation of Religious Freedom Day by President Joe Biden, who said, “Faith has sustained me throughout my life. For me and for so many others, it serves as a reminder of both our collective purpose and potential in the world. But for far too many people within our borders and beyond, practicing their faith still means facing fear and persecution. Today, let us recommit ourselves to ending this hate. And let us work together to ensure that people of all religions — and no religion — are treated with equal dignity and respect.”
On a personal note, Second Gentleman of the United States, Doug Emhoff, said, “Today is National Religious Freedom Day – and we know here in America that religious freedom is a core, transformative democratic principle and it sets our nation apart from the days of its very founding and continues now to forge our unique identities as Americans. I’m the descendant of people who came here a long time ago seeking freedom from religious persecution and today am the first Jewish spouse of an American President or Vice President and know first hand the powerful importance of religious freedom in our society.”
The event welcomed 13 new citizens from 13 different countries, some seeking greater religious freedom. These included teachers, aid workers, economists, soccer coaches, lawyers, moms, dads, many church going, temple attending or involved with their local mosque, now all US citizens.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Ur M. Jaddou issued the oath of allegiance, mentioning how only in America could the daughter of a father from Iraq and a mother from Mexico rise to such a position.
Director Jaddou went on to present the annual “Outstanding Americans by Choice” award to Rev. Eugene Cho, President and CEO of Bread for the World, a Christian organization dedicated to ending hunger in the United States and the world. Rev. Cho emigrated from South Korea to the US with his family, who were originally from North Korea.
Melissa Rogers, Special Assistant to the President and Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, delivered the keynote address. She shared about the various ways the administration is protecting religious freedom, including having established the Protecting Places of Worship Interagency Policy Committee last January, and implementing the largest-ever increase in funding for the physical security of non-profits — including churches, gurdwaras, mosques, synagogues, temples, and other houses of worship.
Melissa Rogers was previously senior counsel for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty.
Also in attendance were two US Ambassadors for International Religious Freedom, Democrat Rashad Hussain and Republican Sam Brownback. Amb. Hussain is the current ambassador in the Biden Administration and he is the first Muslim American to hold the post. Sam Brownback held the post under the Trump Administration and currently co-chairs the IRF Summit with Democrat Katrina Lantos Swett.
Others in attendance included Adam Nicholas Phillips, a senior leader in the Biden-Harris Administration on local, community and Faith-based engagement at USAID. Previously he was a pastor in Portland, Oregon.
New U.S. citizens wave American flags following taking the Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on Friday, with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff on National Religious Freedom Day. pic.twitter.com/V6crX5RWCh
— Al Drago (@Al_Drago) January 13, 2023
I could feel the optimism, hope, and pride in the room as we welcomed 15 of our nation’s newest citizens.
To the new Americans I met today: your traditions, ideas, and beliefs will only make our nation stronger. pic.twitter.com/8A4Vyt2CDa
— Douglas Emhoff (@SecondGentleman) January 14, 2023