The Christmas season is a time when many Idaho families, including my own, gather in churches, at tree lightings, and around the kitchen table to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. These traditions may seem simple, but they rest on an inalienable and natural right protected by our Constitution: the freedom to worship according to our religion.
Religious liberty has been a cornerstone of our nation for nearly 250 years. The ability to worship freely is one of the central reasons early colonists came to this continent, and it remains an essential part of life for countless Idahoans today.
We are fortunate to live in a country that does not merely tolerate religious worship but explicitly protects it in our founding documents. Tragically, that freedom is far from universal.
Just this past weekend, a targeted attack on Australia’s Jewish community left at least 15 people dead and 27 injured. It was a painful reminder that incidents of religious persecution are on the rise worldwide.
According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, more than 2,335 individuals worldwide—Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and Sikhs—were targeted by 28 different countries and entities for their religious beliefs in 2024. Today, 96 countries still enforce laws that criminalize and limit religious worship.
In Afghanistan, the Taliban has limited the religious freedom of women and girls and severely restricted the rights of Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, and Hindus. In Sudan, Christians face persecution from government forces and radical extremists. In Iran, religious minorities are denied education and employment, imprisoned, and severely punished. Across parts of Africa, Christians are hunted and terrorized. In countries like Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Mozambique, they are targeted by terrorists, exploited by elites, and abandoned by their own governments. There have been reports of attacks on Uyghurs in China, persecution of clergy by Russians in Ukraine, and violence against religious minorities throughout the Syrian civil war.
Even at home, Americans are still grieving the attacks on Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, which resulted in the combined loss of seven lives and injuries to 26 others.
This is not just a tragedy; it is a disgrace. Everyone, no matter their religious beliefs or where they call home, deserves to live a life free from fear.
America has always been a beacon of liberty to the world. When the United States leads, the world pays attention. We must remain unapologetic in defending religious freedom and condemning the oppression of inalienable and natural rights.
Earlier this year, I led my colleagues in passing a resolution urging the State Department to promote religious freedom as a central tenet of U.S. foreign policy. I’ve also repeatedly introduced legislation and taken actions to combat antisemitism, protect the rights of faith-based organizations on college campuses, and block radical proposals that undermine Americans’ ability to live according to their religious beliefs.
If we fail to defend the freedoms protected by our First Amendment and hold other countries accountable, we risk surrendering the liberties upon which our nation was founded.
As families across the Gem State celebrate Christmas in their own ways, I pray that we treasure the blessings we share and the freedoms that make them possible. Religious liberty is a gift worth protecting, not only for future generations but also for those around the world.
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