Overview:
Attorney General Pam Bondi, Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, and television personality Dr. Phil joined legal scholars and advocates at the Museum of the Bible for a national hearing on religious liberty. Hosted by the White House Religious Liberty Commission, the event explored how faith shaped the nation’s founding and why religious freedom remains a critical issue in today’s culture and politics.
Washington, D.C. — In a gathering that blended constitutional history with cultural urgency, the White House Religious Liberty Commission hosted their first and significant hearing this week at the Museum of the Bible. Public officials, faith leaders, and legal experts emphasized the biblical foundations of American government. They warned against the erosion of religious freedom in modern public life.
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was among the most prominent speakers. She stated that the U.S. legal system and civic structure were directly influenced by Judeo-Christian ethics.
“We were founded on biblical principles. That’s not an opinion — that’s history,” said Bondi. “When we erase that foundation, we risk losing the liberties built on top of it.”
Also speaking was Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, who serves as chairman of the White House Religious Liberty Commission. The commission is focused on advising leaders on issues of faith in government. Patrick emphasized that liberty cannot exist without a moral foundation. He warned that religious institutions are facing increasing marginalization.
“You can’t separate liberty from faith — because faith birthed liberty in this country,” he said. “We’re not calling for a theocracy. We’re calling for a return to the values that gave birth to America.”
Another headline speaker was Dr. Phil McGraw, longtime host of Dr. Phil (now airing on Showtime) and a newly appointed member of the Religious Liberty Commission. McGraw has recently relocated his production facilities from California to Texas. He cited broader alignment with family and faith-based values as the reason.
“When faith disappears from the national conversation, so does accountability, character, and unity,” McGraw said. “This isn’t just about religion — it’s about the soul of our country.”
The hearing, titled “Faith and the Founding: Protecting Religious Liberty in Modern America”, also featured law professors, theologians, and constitutional historians. They cited early U.S. documents, including state constitutions, to show the influence of biblical teachings in the nation’s early government structures.
Attendees included religious scholars, nonprofit leaders, and policy advocates. Many of them echoed concerns about diminishing religious protections, particularly in public education and civic discourse.
Why Presence News Is Covering This Topic
Presence News is reporting on this hearing not only because of the political figures involved but because of its broader cultural implications. Statistically, around 62% of U.S. citizens identify as Christian, according to recent Pew Research data. For millions of American voters, religious identity and moral values remain central to both personal life and political decisions.
There is mounting evidence that Christian views — particularly those involving the role of gender, parental rights, and school curriculum — played a key role in the election of Donald Trump. This influence was specially noted in swing states. Many voters aligned with his administration’s efforts to remove LGBTQ-themed materials from middle schools. They also voiced concern over public officials stating that minors could change or express new gender identities without parental knowledge or consent.
Presence News believes it is vital to report on the faith-based motivations driving public policy and political momentum. Events like this hearing reveal how deeply the intersection of religion, law, and culture continues to influence American society. Presence News has no opinion on the matter – just relaying political viewpoints of the current leaders.
The White House Religious Liberty Commission is expected to release a formal report on the hearing in the coming weeks. Until then, debates around faith in the public square — and what values truly define America — are only gaining in relevance and urgency.