President Trump names Winona-Rochester Bishop to Religious Liberty Commission

The Bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester is named to President Trump’s new Religious Liberty Commission.  

Bishop Robert Barron was at the White House on Thursday afternoon with the president and other members of the commission except one.  

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, is in Rome. He’s serving as a member of the Conclave selecting the next Pope.  

Leading the commission is Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick with Dr. Ben Carson, the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, as Vice-Chair.  

The commission was Patrick’s idea, the president said.  

Patrick told Trump, “There has never been a president who has invoked the name of Jesus more than you.” 

“We’re bringing back religion in our country, and we’re bringing it back quickly and strongly,” the president said during the Rose Garden ceremony.

President Trump repeatedly questioned the longstanding principle of the separation of church and state during his remarks, at one point saying, “really, separation? I don’t know. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I’m not sure.”

According to the White House, “the commission will advise the White House Faith Office and Domestic Policy Council on religious-liberty policies and recommend executive or legislative actions to protect these freedoms.”  

Information from the White House stated that “Key focus areas include parental rights in religious education, school choice, conscience protections, attacks on houses of worship, free speech for religious entities, and institutional autonomy.” 

In a statement posted on his X page, Bishop Barron commented on the appointment.  

“I am grateful to President Trump for appointing me to serve on the Commission on Religious Liberty. Freedom of religion in our country has been a central concern of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for decades, and I see my task as bringing the perspective of Catholic social teaching to bear as the Commission endeavors to shape public policy in this matter. In assuming this responsibility, I take as my model Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, the legendary president of the University of Notre Dame from 1952 to 1987. In the course of his career, Hesburgh served on sixteen separate presidential commissions over several decades in both Republican and Democrat administrations. I ask you to pray for me as I commence this important work.” 

The members of the commission include: 

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (Chair) 

Dr. Ben Carson (Vice-Chair)-former Sec. Of Housing and Urban Development 

Ryan T. Anderson-President of the Ethics and Public Policy Center 

Bishop Robert Barron-Bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester 

Carrie Prejean Boller-Author, former Miss California USA and 2009 Miss USA runner-up 

Cardinal Timothy Dolan-Archbishop of New York 

Pastor Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association  

Allyson Ho, attorney 

Dr. Phil McGraw 

Eric Metaxas-Writer, speaker, radio host.  

Kelly Shackelford-President and CEO of First Liberty Institute 

Rabbi Meir Soloveichik-Rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel-the oldest Jewish congregation in the US 

Pastor Paula White-Senior Advisor to the White House Faith Office 

The executive order signed by President Trump said that the members of commission serve until 2026. The president may extend membership for an additional two years. Members can serve until their replacement is appointed.  

Read President Trump’s Executive Order here.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.