White House Ties Religious Liberty to American Independence on Global Coptic Day
Presidential statement highlights Coptic Orthodox Church’s resilience and condemns global persecution of Christians, linking religious freedom to the 250th anniversary of US independence.
The White House has issued a statement marking Global Coptic Day, framing the observance as a reaffirmation of the United States’ commitment to religious liberty. The message from the President celebrated the enduring faith and resilience of the Coptic Orthodox Church while condemning the violent persecution of Christians globally.
The statement highlighted the historical roots of the Coptic community, tracing its origins to the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt over 2,000 years ago and the evangelism of Saint Mark. It noted that Coptic Christians in the United States contribute to national life through their devotion and steadfast witness, while acknowledging the community’s historical struggles against oppression and violence.
The President specifically referenced the 2015 execution of 21 Coptic construction workers by ISIS terrorists in Libya as a stark example of the barbaric evil facing Christians worldwide. The message described this violence as a target of tyrants who seek to destroy the liberty that every person deserves to live out their faith openly and without fear.
To address these challenges, the administration pointed to the Religious Liberty Commission, which the President established to safeguard the free exercise of faith and protect the fundamental rights of religious believers. The Commission is tasked with working to further the cause of religious liberty both within the United States and around the world.
Linking the protection of faith to the core values of American independence, the President described America as the ultimate example of freedom to the world. The statement noted that the free exercise of religion is the cornerstone of the constitutional way of life and the first freedom enshrined by the Founders, a sentiment underscored by the current celebration of the 250th anniversary of American Independence.
The faithful of the Coptic Orthodox Church were described as a testament to standing firm in faith and enduring with courage through centuries of suffering. The President concluded that their resilience reminds Americans of the true meaning of trust in divine providence and the importance of defending religious liberty as a foundational element of the Republic.