Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 24, 2020 / 09:30 am (CNA).- President-elect Joe Biden announced several foreign policy appointments to his cabinet on Monday, including a nominee for Secretary of State. If confirmed, nominees will shape U.S. foreign policy on a range of subjects, especially religious freedom.
Biden will nominate Antony Blinken, former Deputy Secretary of State under President Obama, to be the next Secretary of State. Binken also served as assistant and a national security advisor to Obama, and worked on the National Security Council in the Clinton administration.
The appointment of a former Obama official to lead the State Department could signal a shift in U.S. policy on international LGBTQ issues and on promoting religious freedom abroad.
Under the Obama administration, the U.S. invested tens of millions of dollars to promote LGBTQ concerns while being criticized by some religious freedom advocates for deemphasizing or taking a softer approach to promoting international religious freedom.
Some advocates pointed out lengthy gaps in time under the Obama administration where a key position at the State Department, the Ambassador at-Large for International Religious Freedom, remained vacant. The administration, meanwhile, established and appointed the first-ever Special Envoy for LGBTQ issues at the department in 2015.
Dr. Tom Farr, president of the Religious Freedom Institute, told CNA that through the special envoy, the U.S. could go further than simply trying to end violence against persons with same-sex attraction; the State Department could actively influence public opinion on the LGBT agenda in developing countries including by pressuring non-governmental organizations to change their beliefs on marriage.
In promoting international religious freedom, the State Department produces an annual report on the matter and lists certain countries in a tier rating system depending upon how poorly they protect religious freedom.
The Trump administration took a strong approach in presenting the report, condemning religious persecution and calling out bad actors by name. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned China’s abuses of largely-Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang more than two dozen times in less than a year.
The U.S. also formed the International Religious Freedom Alliance, and hosted the first-ever ministerial on religious freedom with religious and civic leaders attending from more than 100 countries.
Blinken, if confirmed, would also have to navigate these and other pressing humanitarian concerns, such as violence in Nigeria that has displaced millions of Muslims and Christians, and a dwindling Christian population in the Middle East.
The Biden administration could take a softer approach to dealing with bad actors, as some advocates, such as former USCIRF commissioner James Zogby, have called for a shift in the strategy of “naming-and-shaming” violators of religious freedom.
When he introduced the State Department’s 2015 religious freedom report, Blinken emphasized that “[t]he purpose of this annual report is not to lecture,” but rather “is to inform, to encourage, and ultimately to persuade.”
In Obama’s State Department, Blinken was part of an administration that pursued the nuclear deal with Iran and U.S. participation in the Paris Climate Accord—agreements that were supported by the U.S. bishops’ conference and the Holy See.
While the Trump administration withdrew from both agreements and ratcheted up “maximum pressure” sanctions on Iran, Blinken may work to revive U.S. relations with Iran and participation in international climate agreements.
Also on Monday, Biden named Linda Thomas-Greenfield as his pick for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Greenfield served in the Obama administration as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and before that as Ambassador to Liberia. Among other issues, she fought laws that she said discriminated against the LGBT community, including criminalization of same-sex relations in countries like Uganda and Nigeria.
The Obama administration promoted LGBT concerns in Africa, but backlash in African countries reportedly led to some stricter laws against persons with same-sex attraction and violence against them.
At an April, 2014 congressional hearing, Greenfield spoke out against proposed “anti-LGBT legislation” in Africa that was leading to “renewed violence against the LGBT community.” Uganda had just enacted a law criminalizing homosexuality.
“We’re in the process of reviewing that relationship and our funding to see where changes can be made and in particular changes that will take funding away from those organizations and entities that discriminate against the LGBT community,” Greenfield said.
In 2015, around a visit of the Nigerian president to the U.S., she reportedly said that “As a policy, we will continue to press the government of Nigeria as well as other governments who have provided legislation that discriminate against the LGBT community.”
After President Obama promoted “the rights of gays and lesbians” during a 2015 trip to Kenya, Nigerian Cardinal John Onaiyekan of Abuja responded that “our Church has always said homosexuality is unnatural and marriage is between a man and a woman.”
During the Trump administration, the U.S. also spoke out against abortion as an international human right at the United Nations General Assembly. As Biden has pledged to support legal abortion and overturn a ban on funding of foreign abortion promoters and providers, his administration might also promote legal abortion as part of diplomacy.
When senior advisor to the president Ivanka Trump tweeted that she was “unapologetically pro-life” on Oct. 30, Greenfield replied “Good! Pro life means supporting the lives of children taken from their parents at the border, poor children and people with Covid…”.
Biden has also tapped former Secretary of State John Kerry to serve in his cabinet, as Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.
Kerry in 2015 praised Pope Francis’ ecology encyclical Laudato Si’ as “powerful,” telling TIME magazine that the pope “thoughtfully applied” the value of environmental stewardship “to the very real threat our planet is facing today.”
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I’m sorry but the bishops don’t get to weigh in on our immigration crisis because they all share in the guilt of encouraging people to break the law by entering the USA illegally. And, in addition to that, the bishops profitted handsomely by this conspiracy to abet foreigners’ breaking our laws.
I’d suggest that Bishop Broglio try leaving the USA or entering any other country without a passport i.e. illegally and see what the consequences are.
Excellent point, Diogenes.
The bishops have blood on their hands. They have advocated for the illegal migration of millions into this country, which directly resulted in the deaths of thousands upon thousands of Americans due to drug overdoses, plus the sex trafficking of women and children.
Archbishop Broglio and his USCCB henchmen are complicit. It’s just one part of the legacy of Bergoglio.
(Also see: Rupnik, et al.)
I don’t believe the bishops see all sides of the border security issue, especially the tragic effects it’s had on Mexican communities plagued by cartel violence & extortion .Human smuggling just strengthens the cartels through profits & enables turf wars.
On the other hand, some who only see enforcing immigration law as a good in itself can miss the human suffering of those who are taken away from their work in our hotels, landscaping companies, & poultry processing plants. Most of these are otherwise decent folk who are trying to support their families back home & doing jobs many US citizens don’t want.
mrscracker, I do see your point about people wanting to come here to seek jobs and support their families. At the same time, how many of these people are holding jobs that are ‘off-the-books’ and are being paid slave wages? How many in the agriculture industry are picking crops and living in trailers moving from place to place as the seasons change- a totally peripatetic existence? How many jobs come with Workman’s Comp and health insurance? How many have fraudulently obtained drivers licenses and Social Security cards and then illegally vote in our elections as instructed by the DNC?
Let me tell you about someone I counseled in my Psychology practice a few years back. He came to the USA illegally and had to pay a huge sum of money to the cartel that guaranteed his safe passage. At first he was sending a good deal of the money he earned back to Mexico to support the wife and three children he left there. After he was here for a time, he began feeling lonely and he met an Hispanic woman who I guess sensed that he was a hard working guy and a good catch. She got pregnant. Now they are living together and the money he used to send back home stopped because few salaries can support two families. My guess is that his wife and three children are even more destitute than before, the children will be forgotten and will remain fatherless for their lives. Multiply this scenario hundreds of thousands of times. Illegal immigration is not only a crime; in my book it is a sin.
Yes, it certainly creates all kinds of opportunities for abuse & exploitation. That’s why I think we should try to normalize the immigration/work visa status for folks who are employed in our communities & have maintained clean records. It would also allow them to go home & visit their families on a regular basis instead of being stuck here & taking up with new partners.
The real criminals need to be deported ASAP but decent workers are an asset we shouldn’t take for granted. We’ll be competing soon with other nations for workers as our population ages.
I worked for years & years with no health insurance or benefits. Lots of people here live in trailers, not just Hispanic migrants. Agricultural workers are generally legal. I’ve heard that fewer Mexicans want those kinds of jobs these days. Mexico’s no longer a 3rd World nation but there are still pockets of poverty.
I think the bishops see the human suffering without balancing that with the terrible price Mexico pays for our enabling the cartels. The border needs to be secured & the smuggling ended as much as possible. But we can work with people already in the workforce & not try to channel Inspector Javert. There should be a legal, humane & reasonable solution.
Bishops have been paid for “resettlement”.
I am a CPA, if I have any interest in a potential audit client, I may not opine on their financial statements. Why? Because my independence is impaired.
Same here.
Every illegal has a criminal history.
There is a bizarre notion among invasion advocates that somehow if somebody enters illegally, that “laying low” exonerates, excuses or mitigates their illegal entry. I assure you that if you commit tax fraud, the IRS will not defer prosecution simply because you haven’t followed up your initial evasion with another.
This is CCC 2241.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2241:
The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able,
(We are no longer able to do so. We are “broke”. There are cultural and economic reasons that impair our ability to receive more-especially millions-even if they all entered legally)
to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood
(Seeking our welfare state, and the drive by certain industries to maintain subpar wages is not security or means of livelihood)
which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him.
(The operative word here is guest. Guests are respectful of their host, the host’s abode, the host’s needs and do not attempt to become squatters)
Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption.
(NOTHING is ever said about the responsibilities of the immigrants or those that violate our sovereignty or their duties)
Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.
(Rioting and insisting on open borders, flying foreign flags and running for office and prioritizing the needs of one’s own tribe, ethnicity, religion or country of origin is NOT respecting with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, obedience to its laws or the assistance with carrying civic burdens.) Ilhan Omar should simply not be in any position of authority.
Bishops seem to have forgotten the citizens of this country have rights and reasonable expectations of a government in protecting their rights as well-and they never seem to worry about our concerns in this regard.
I think Archbishop Broglio may be missing important actions of ICE. Incited by Trump’s MAGA insanity, and the complicit Sec. Noem, and Border Czar Homan, having caused uprisings nationwide. What was ICE’s charter? I heard that the order was to seek out criminals, cartels like MS13.
The criminal actions this week by ICE “officers” handcuffing Senator Alex Padilla and New York Comptroller Brad Lander proved that Trump, again, is out of control.
This week, the raids resumed on farms, meat processors, restaurants, and hotels. I have asked some GOP leaders, Senator majority leader, John Barrasso, GOP Whip and Bill Cassidy, why they remain silent. No response. Seems like nothing has changed.
Dear Pitchfork. I agree with most of your hypotheses. As a Catholic, I most always, favor the decisions of the Hierarchy. I try to refrain from disparaging them. The challenged Church needs the help of its faithful.
No question, migration and the asylum overload are the main causes of criminals entering the country. The text makes no mention of ICE and its mission. ICE appears to be thrust onto the scene. They show little compassion even to the migrants working in the fields. There is strong evidence that Trump’s ICE minions have been given free range. Noem and Homan are using a “scorched earth, slash-and=burn methods. Ex: just this week, Senator Alex Padilla and NYC Comptroller Brad Landon were handcuffed and released. ICE seems to be in every city, even my little city of Kingston, NY. I asked my GOP congressional reps “did Congress appropriate taxpayer money to fund ICE?” No reply. I am amazed that my GOP US reps have remained silent on many issues facing the nation.
Criminal and ruthless cartels, Tren de Aragua and MS13 are driving many of the migrants from their countries. They are in the US.
There have been forceful statements from the church.
Thank you
Mr Morgan, no one comes to our border without having paid off the cartels. And not a few migrants remain in debt to them and are extorted into drug smuggling. It’s a really ugly revolving door that we have cooperated with by not securing the border.
I feel sorry for hardworking migrants who are just here to support their parents and families but the bad ones need to go. Hopefully we can fix our system to reward the good workers and make future entry safe and legal.