CV residents discuss executive order promoting religious liberty
President Donald Trump made good on a campaign promise to allow greater freedom of speech and religious liberty.
Read: Trump signs executive order to ‘vigorously promote religious liberty’
The executive order comes on the National Day of Prayer. There are several ceremonies taking place in the Coachella Valley Thursday night:
Sacred Heart Palm Desert is holding a ceremony in Palm Springs at 5:45 p.m. in front of City Hall The POD Church at 1020 Ramon Road in Palm Springs at 5:45 p.m. Calvary Chapel Palm Desert at 73251 Hovely Lane W at 6 p.m. Trinity Baptist Church in Indio, 44550 Monroe Street
The measure allows religious groups to endorse or oppose candidates without risking tax exempt status. It also offers “Regulatory Relief” which would allow employers to opt out of covering contraception in insurance plans.
Reverend Howard Lincoln from Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Palm Desert says he welcomes the measure but is still reviewing it.
“I think that our church has always tried to uplift the moral dimensions of a public issue, particularly as they concern human life and human dignity. Anything we say from the pulpit we would like to avoid polticalization or polarization of our parishioners. We don’t want to appear bigoted or hostile. I think at the same time disagreement about moral issues is an inevitable and desirous fruit of a free society,” Lincoln said.
Some parishioners see benefits to the new regulations.
“If you want to find out how your church or religious denomination feels about something it might be important for you to know, so you can go along with it, or not go with it,” said Rick Cox from Sky Valley.
Others say they won’t stand for the overlap in religion and politics.
“I wouldn’t go to church to hear a political rally and I wouldn’t go to a political rally to be advised about some religious types of things, so I think they should be separate,” said Fillis Giammatteo of Palm Springs.
The new measure marked on National Day of Prayer, which is being celebrated across the Valley today.
“We would like to cover our community with prayer and it’s seven-tier that we’re going to be praying for today. We will be praying for all of our businesses, we will be praying for our military, we will be praying for our government, we will be praying for our education system, families, as well as media,” said Reverend Jose Quintana, senior pastor at POD Church.
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