U.S. Senate averts shutdown of U.S. religious freedom commission

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The U.S. Senate has approved legislation reauthorizing a commission to advocate for religious freedom around the world.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, threatened with shuttering, will continue functioning pending expected approval of a Senate-modified bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. The U.S. House passed its own reauthorization in September in an overwhelming 391-21 vote.

The independent U.S. government commission was created by the passage of the International Religious Freedom Act in 1998. Its continued existence was threatened when a U.S. senator placed an anonymous hold on legislation reauthorizing the USCIRF.

USCIRF provides a counterpoint to the Religious Freedom Office at the U.S. Department of State. As an independent commission, USCIRF often makes stronger statements to violators of religious persecution around the world.

Religious freedom advocates have expressed relief that the commission will continue.

“With this bipartisan reauthorization, the commission can continue to press for religious freedom around the world,” said Faith J.H. McDonnell, Religious Liberty Program Director at the Institute on Religion and Democracy, in a press release last week.

“We urge Americans who care about the persecuted church and other religious believers around the world to never take for granted this important commission.”