News (USA)

Pope Francis: ‘Keep fighting for religious liberty’

Pope Francis: ‘Keep fighting for religious liberty’
Pope Francis turns toward President Barack Obama during his welcoming remarks at the state arrival ceremony in his honor on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015.
Pope Francis turns toward President Barack Obama during his welcoming remarks at the state arrival ceremony in his honor on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015. AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Pope Francis is encouraging U.S. bishops to continue to defend religious liberty in America in a message that will be welcomed by conservatives fighting for conscience exemptions on gay marriage and the Obama administration’s health care mandate.

Speaking from the South Lawn of the White House with President Barack Obama at his side, Francis said religious liberty is “one of America’s most precious possessions.”

He says everyone in America is called to “preserve and defend that freedom from everything that would threaten or compromise it.”

Religious freedom has become a rallying cry for opponents of gay marriage in the U.S. who don’t want to recognize same-sex spouses in their charities, schools, hospitals and businesses.

The issue is a major point of tension between Obama and the U.S. bishops.

© 2015, Associated Press, All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Even more straight men make out on Instagram to protest Kim Davis

Previous article

Facebook prankster trolls bigots complaining about Rainbow Doritos

Next article