The Story: In a confirmation hearing of an executive branch nominee, two U.S. senators imply that those who believe Jesus is the only way to salvation are “Islamophobic” and not fit for public office.
The Background: Last year, a controversy erupted when a political science professor at Wheaton College decided to wear a hijab during Advent in solidarity with Muslims. In a post on Facebook, Larycia Hawkins wrote, “I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book. And as Pope Francis stated last week, we worship the same God.”
Many Christians disagreed with her claim, including Wheaton alum Russell Vought. In an article for the conservative website The Resurgent, Vought pushed back against a defense of Hawkins made by theologian John Stackhouse. “Having a deficient (e.g., nontrinitarian) theology of God,” Stackhouse said, “does not mean you are not in actual prayerful and faithful relationship with God.”
To this claim Vought responded, “Muslims do not simply have a deficient theology. They do not know God because they have rejected Jesus Christ his Son, and they stand condemned.”
This April President Donald Trump nominated Vought to serve as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget. Vought’s Senate confirmation hearing was held yesterday.
At 1:26 p.m. EDT, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sent a statement about Vought’s confirmation hearing in which they quoted his remarks in The Resurgent article and said,
“Religious freedom is such a fundamental liberty that the framers of our Constitution enshrined it in the First Amendment. That’s why it’s so disturbing that Trump continues to pack his administration with appointees like Russell Vought, whose views threaten that very freedom.
“Trump’s nominee for this powerful position that helps decide how federal money is spent has claimed that ‘Muslims do not simply have a deficient theology. They do not know God because they have rejected Jesus Christ his Son, and they stand condemned.’
“We know that diversity is one of our nation’s greatest strengths, and it is vitally important that Americans have confidence that their public servants will serve our entire nation in good faith. That’s why we will watch Vought closely and press to ensure that those helping decide how public money is spent and the government is managed understand the vital importance of nondiscrimination.”
An hour later, in what appears to be a coordinated action with the ACLU, Senator Bernie Sanders grilled Vought on the quote during his nomination hearing. The socialist from Vermont read the quote and asked Vought, “Do you believe that statement is Islamophobic?”
Vought responded that he did not, that he was a Christian who based his principles on his faith, and that the statement was made in defense of Wheaton College’s statement of faith about the centrality of Jesus Christ for salvation.
Before Vought could finish responding, Sanders cut him off and asked whether Muslims stand condemned. Vought reiterated that he was a Christian, whereupon Sanders interrupted him again to ask if Jews stand condemned. For the third time Vought pointed out that he was a Christian and once again Sanders interrupted the nominee’s answer. Sanders began yelling at Vought, saying,
“I understand you are a Christian. But this country is made up of people who are not just [sic], I understand that Christianity is the majority religion. But there are other people who have different religions in this country and around the world. In your judgment, do you think that people who are not Christians are going to be condemned?”
Ten seconds into his answer, Sanders interrupted Vought once again to ask if the statement that “they do not know God” is respectful of other religions. After answering, Sanders said, “I would simply say, Mr. Chairman, that this nominee is really not someone who is what this country is supposed to be about.”
A few minutes later, Senator Christopher Van Hollen Jr. of Maryland quoted from Vought’s article and said,
“I think it is irrefutable that these kinds of comments suggest to a whole lot of Americans that, number one . . . you are condemning people of all faiths. I’m a Christian, but part of being a Christian in my view is recognizing that there are lots of ways that people can pursue their God. . . . It’s your comments that suggest a violation of the public trust in what will be a very important position.”
The relevant remarks made during the hearing can be found on this video, from minute 44:20 to 51:20.
Two U.S. Senators Apply an Anti-Christian Religious Test for Government Officials
The Background: Last year, a controversy erupted when a political science professor at Wheaton College decided to wear a hijab during Advent in solidarity with Muslims. In a post on Facebook, Larycia Hawkins wrote, “I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book. And as Pope Francis stated last week, we worship the same God.”
Many Christians disagreed with her claim, including Wheaton alum Russell Vought. In an article for the conservative website The Resurgent, Vought pushed back against a defense of Hawkins made by theologian John Stackhouse. “Having a deficient (e.g., nontrinitarian) theology of God,” Stackhouse said, “does not mean you are not in actual prayerful and faithful relationship with God.”
To this claim Vought responded, “Muslims do not simply have a deficient theology. They do not know God because they have rejected Jesus Christ his Son, and they stand condemned.”
This April President Donald Trump nominated Vought to serve as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget. Vought’s Senate confirmation hearing was held yesterday.
At 1:26 p.m. EDT, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sent a statement about Vought’s confirmation hearing in which they quoted his remarks in The Resurgent article and said,
“Religious freedom is such a fundamental liberty that the framers of our Constitution enshrined it in the First Amendment. That’s why it’s so disturbing that Trump continues to pack his administration with appointees like Russell Vought, whose views threaten that very freedom.
“Trump’s nominee for this powerful position that helps decide how federal money is spent has claimed that ‘Muslims do not simply have a deficient theology. They do not know God because they have rejected Jesus Christ his Son, and they stand condemned.’
“We know that diversity is one of our nation’s greatest strengths, and it is vitally important that Americans have confidence that their public servants will serve our entire nation in good faith. That’s why we will watch Vought closely and press to ensure that those helping decide how public money is spent and the government is managed understand the vital importance of nondiscrimination.”
An hour later, in what appears to be a coordinated action with the ACLU, Senator Bernie Sanders grilled Vought on the quote during his nomination hearing. The socialist from Vermont read the quote and asked Vought, “Do you believe that statement is Islamophobic?”
Vought responded that he did not, that he was a Christian who based his principles on his faith, and that the statement was made in defense of Wheaton College’s statement of faith about the centrality of Jesus Christ for salvation.
Before Vought could finish responding, Sanders cut him off and asked whether Muslims stand condemned. Vought reiterated that he was a Christian, whereupon Sanders interrupted him again to ask if Jews stand condemned. For the third time Vought pointed out that he was a Christian and once again Sanders interrupted the nominee’s answer. Sanders began yelling at Vought, saying,
“I understand you are a Christian. But this country is made up of people who are not just [sic], I understand that Christianity is the majority religion. But there are other people who have different religions in this country and around the world. In your judgment, do you think that people who are not Christians are going to be condemned?”
Ten seconds into his answer, Sanders interrupted Vought once again to ask if the statement that “they do not know God” is respectful of other religions. After answering, Sanders said, “I would simply say, Mr. Chairman, that this nominee is really not someone who is what this country is supposed to be about.”
A few minutes later, Senator Christopher Van Hollen Jr. of Maryland quoted from Vought’s article and said,
“I think it is irrefutable that these kinds of comments suggest to a whole lot of Americans that, number one . . . you are condemning people of all faiths. I’m a Christian, but part of being a Christian in my view is recognizing that there are lots of ways that people can pursue their God. . . . It’s your comments that suggest a violation of the public trust in what will be a very important position.”
The relevant remarks made during the hearing can be found on this video, from minute 44:20 to 51:20.
Two U.S. Senators Apply an Anti-Christian Religious Test for Government Officials