The Department of Justice (DOJ) has taken significant steps to reinforce religious freedom during the Trump administration.
In recent months, the DOJ has expressed its interest in cases concerning church land use, initiated a task force aimed at addressing anti-Christian bias, and launched an inquiry into what it describes as an “anti-Catholic” law in Washington state.
On Monday, the DOJ began looking into a law that requires Catholic priests to disclose details from confessions related to child abuse. This law, signed by Democratic Governor Bob Ferguson, notably excludes “clergy members” from the exceptions that protect privileged communication.
Bishop Thomas Daly from Spokane remarked that priests are committed to upholding the confidentiality of confessions despite the new law.
“This law forces priests into a dilemma: violate their faith or break the law,” noted civil rights attorney Harmeet Dhillon on X. “It clearly violates the Constitution.”
In April, Attorney General Pam Bondy convened a meeting with members of the task force established to combat anti-Christian bias through executive order.
Additionally, a man was indicted for allegedly setting fire to a Mormon church in March.
Andrea Pipiotti Bayer, director of the Conscience Project and former DOJ civil rights attorney, stated that these actions represent what Americans should expect from their federal government.
“For too long, the DOJ’s divisions neglected or even opposed religious freedom. These new efforts signify a major shift,” she said.
In April, Dillon pointed out that there seems to be a growing hostility towards religion in various sectors of society. “We have federal laws—such as RLUIPA—that protect religious beliefs, including specific protections for land use related to religious practices,” she explained.
RLUIPA is designed to shield religious assemblies from discrimination in zoning and land use regulations. The DOJ previously filed a statement of interest in cases involving a Muslim organization in New York, as well as churches in North Carolina and New Hampshire.
The DOJ had also introduced an initiative in 2018 to raise awareness about RLUIPA.
During the Biden administration, the DOJ has been criticized for mainly focusing on indicting pro-life supporters while neglecting incidents of violence against churches and pregnancy centers. Dillon has indicated that this approach will change.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, numerous attacks on churches and pregnancy centers were reported. Between 1994 and 2024, incidents against pro-life activists were pursued more vigorously than those against abortion clinics.
