By Former Miss California Carrie Prejean Boller has been removed from President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced that Carrie Prejean Boller has been removed from President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission.
“No member of the commission has the right to hijack a hearing for their own personal and political agenda on any issue,” said Patrick, who serves as chair of the commission, in a post on X. “This is clearly, without question, what happened Monday in our hearing on antisemitism in America.”
“This was my decision,” he added.
Boller, a Catholic who is former Miss California USA, sparked a debate Feb. 9 among fellow commissioners and panelists at a hearing focused on the topic of on antisemitism when she said her Catholic faith prevents her from embracing Zionism and repeatedly pressed Jewish panelists on whether her views made her an antisemite.
The Church recognizes Israel’s fundamental right to exist and universally condemns antisemitism. Catholic teaching does not explicitly oppose Zionism, the movement supporting Jewish self‑determination in a homeland in Israel. Israel is seen as God’s chosen people through whom God revealed himself and prepared the way for the coming of Jesus Christ.
Patrick praised the work of the commission, which has held five hearings and has two more scheduled. He described testimonies that have been shared with the commission as “both illuminating and heartbreaking.”
He said: “This spring, the commission will deliver one of the most important reports in American history directly to the president.”
The commission is a federal advisory panel created in May 2025 under the Trump administration to provide guidance to the White House on protecting religious freedom in the United States. Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, are members.
Boller told EWTN News after the hearing that members of the commission asked her to resign a few months ago but that she refused. She also said several members asked to meet with her before the Feb. 9 hearing to discourage her from making her planned remarks. “They were seeing what I was going to say in the hearing, trying to silence me,” she said. “I told them I won’t be silenced.”
Boller did not immediately respond to a request for comment about her removal from the panel.
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But this article doesn’t quote Prejean’s profoundly offensive comments. Why is that? She stated that the Church teaches that “the Jews” are Christ-killers and defended that “devout Catholic” Candice Owens, who happens professes to believe in the Blood Libel and denies the scope of the Holocaust. For a better account, see the Wall Street Journal editorial for 11 February. Prejean’s actions look like a stunt to raise her media profile.
Be the first to comment – OK, I will.
I was hoping others would comment first so I could figure out if I’m way out in left field.
I can only speak for myself but I haven’t a clue what Zionism means.
Nor anti-Zionism. I think I know what antisemitism means.
Anti Zionism is the current repurposing of Anti Semitism .
Sandra Miesel above (3:19 p.m.) – Thanks for your comments. They certainly help clarify the problem with Prejean Boller’s comments. I did wonder how she was named to the Commission, whose other members seem to be quite solid, as far as I’m aware.
I’m sorry for both of these ladies. Something must be really off kilter.