Staff Reports
Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri recently stood firm during Pam Bondi’s confirmation hearing for attorney general, drawing attention to a startling trend within the Biden-Harris administration: a blatant disregard for the religious freedoms of Americans. While Democrats were busy trying to pin accusations on Bondi about targeting their political foes, Hawley took the opportunity to redirect the conversation to a far more concerning issue—the administration’s ongoing campaign against people of faith.
The senator didn’t pull any punches as he pointed out that over the past four years, this administration has launched one of the most extensive assaults on religious individuals in American history. He painted a grim picture of an unprecedented legal landscape for Christians, declaring that the actions taken by the Justice Department could very well be one of the most disgraceful episodes in the agency’s history. It’s not every day that one hears such a straight-up indictment of a major government department, but in the case of the current administration, it appears warranted.
Watch Senator Josh Hawley rip into the Biden administration for weaponizing the DOJ against people of faith:
"In the last four years, this administration has carried out an unprecedented attack and campaign against people of faith." pic.twitter.com/Vt6uvqEklW
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) January 15, 2025
In his passionate plea, Hawley illuminated a shocking statistic: after the Supreme Court’s decision on the Dobbs case, there was a surge in violence against pro-life pregnancy care centers and churches. With reports of over 100 pregnancy care centers and 300 churches being attacked, vandalized, or firebombed, one would expect a flurry of arrests and prosecutions. However, if one were to seek justice for these heinous acts, they would be sadly disappointed, as only two suspects had been prosecuted. This worryingly low number prompts significant questions about the Justice Department’s priorities.
Hawley boldly characterized the attacks on these vital community resources as both violent and gruesome, asserting that they were fueled by harmful rhetoric from Democratic lawmakers who dismiss pregnancy care centers as “not real medicine.” If lawmakers are stoking the fires of violence against faith-based institutions, and the Justice Department remains silent, it creates a chilling atmosphere for those who wish to peacefully practice their beliefs without fear of reprisal. The senator highlighted this hypocrisy with precision, demonstrating how certain members of Congress seem more interested in excusing violence than defending the First Amendment rights of Americans.
The senator didn’t stop there. He underscored another shocking revelation: while members of the Justice Department couldn’t find time to protect these communities, they were all too eager to utilize legislation like the FACE Act to pursue pro-life demonstrators with the intolerance of a SWAT team raid at dawn. The irony here is difficult to overlook: the same government that prioritizes the prosecution of peaceful pro-life advocates can’t seem to spare a moment for the victims of actual violence against their places of worship and centers for faith-based support.
Senator Hawley also took aim at a more invasive strategy that came to light regarding the FBI’s activities, which allegedly included plans to infiltrate Catholic parishes. By revealing this shocking intent, he publicly condemned it as an outrageous abuse of power that struck directly at the heart of the First Amendment. It’s not merely a case of overreach; it’s a glaring example of a government entity with its sights set on controlling the religious narrative in America. With Bondi’s confirmation on the table, Hawley made it clear that addressing this intent to weaponize agencies against religious Americans must be a top priority.
Despite the relentless focus on former President Trump and his associates, the truth remains that the Justice Department’s targeting antics extend far beyond the political sphere and into the realm of spiritual belief. The echoes of past government overreach are impossible to ignore, reminiscent of the infamous COINTELPRO operations that sought to undermine movements that countered the mainstream political agenda. The sad reality is that while this administration’s priorities seem misaligned, the hope remains that with the right leadership, reverence for faith can once again take precedence over politically motivated attacks.
