The problem with the Rededicate 250 event on the National Mall is not that it was too religious; it’s that its religious nature was too narrow.
Our Founders inherited a tradition of religious freedom and religious tolerance, and we have inherited the same. Our country is made up of people of many faith traditions and of none at all, who find ways to live together peacefully and serve the common good. If we are going to celebrate the religious achievements of America at 250, we should go after a bigger game than the relatively narrowly focused group of speakers that gathered on Sunday. Government is poorly positioned to spark a revival.
As a Roman Catholic, I’m excited about the upcoming Eucharistic procession for America 250 that is sponsored by the Catholic Church. As a believer in religious freedom, however, I’m skeptical of government-sponsored efforts to promote religion — especially when it feels so political.
Chris Crawford is the Senior Director of Civic Strategies at Interfaith America.
Chris Crawford
Chris Crawford is the Senior Director of Civic Strategies at Interfaith America. He previously served as a policy strategist at Protect Democracy, where he led staffing for The National Task Force on Election Crises and partnered with Interfaith America in developing the Faith in Elections Playbook during the 2024 election.
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