--:-- [Theme music fades out]
--:-- John Bickley: Good morning, and welcome to Morning Wire. I'm John Bickley, editor-in-chief of The Daily Wire, and I'm joined today by my co-host Georgia Howe. It's Easter Sunday, April 20th.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's right, John. And we have a special guest joining us today. He's the president of the Heritage Foundation, Kevin Roberts. Welcome to the show, Kevin.
--:-- Kevin Roberts: Thanks for having me on the show.
--:-- John Bickley: Kevin, you recently published an op-ed arguing that the U.S. is a Christian nation at its core and that we should embrace this fact. I want to talk to you about that premise. First, how important is it that our founding was based on Christian values?
--:-- Kevin Roberts: Well, 100%. We wouldn't have the United States without Christianity, which is not to say that we ought to be dismissive toward the wonderful and unique religious pluralism we have in the United States. Obviously, people of other faiths, particularly those who are Jewish, were also vital to the American founding and they're vital to the United States today.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's a great point. And you mentioned that the worldview that created the ideology, the philosophy which undergirded the founding of the United States was explicitly Christian. Can you elaborate on that?
--:-- Kevin Roberts: Yes, certainly. The one which is profoundly the case and has been for the last two generations is a proper understanding of freedom. From the understanding of freedom that most Americans understood at our founding, they would say that freedom is the right to do what we ought, which confers a moral obligation to community, a moral obligation to other.
--:-- John Bickley: That's really interesting. You're saying that the concept of freedom has been redefined over the last two generations, and that's led to a more individualistic understanding of freedom, rather than a sense of community and moral obligation.
--:-- Kevin Roberts: Exactly. And what has happened, however, over the last two generations is a redefinition of freedom, which is unhealthy, which is the freedom to do whatever the heck we want. Eliminating that and coming to refocus on freedom as what we ought to do gets us to aspire to something greater as Americans.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's a really important point. And how do you see this redefinition of freedom playing out in terms of laws and policies? For example, in terms of sexual morality issues?
--:-- Kevin Roberts: Well, I think that's where the ideology that has run roughshod over religious liberty has been particularly damaging. The radical left has used this redefinition of freedom to justify laws and policies that restrict people's ability to live out their religious convictions.
--:-- John Bickley: That's a great point. And you've argued that the conservative movement has been zealous in protecting religious liberty, particularly for Christians. Can you speak to that?
--:-- Kevin Roberts: Yes, I can. In fact, the conservative justices on the Supreme Court have been just as zealous in protecting the religious liberty of non-Christians as they are of Christians. So I have 100% confidence that that will continue to be the case for those of us who are politically conservative.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's reassuring to hear. And you've also talked about the importance of maximizing religious freedom, making sure we don't curtail those freedoms, and encouraging more participation in religious activities. Can you elaborate on that?
--:-- Kevin Roberts: Yes, that's right. And there's an irony there, right? At the very least, a strong correlation between two things. One, the attack on religious liberty, which, for example, we saw under the Biden and Obama administrations, and the decline in religiosity of Americans, broadly defined.
--:-- John Bickley: That's a really interesting point. And you've also talked about the importance of the separation of church and state. Can you speak to that?
--:-- Kevin Roberts: Well, I think that's a topic that's been much debated over the centuries. And even the source of this, a lot of people think this is in the Constitution. It's not. Do you see the perspective on that changing? Do you see this moving in a particular direction in recent decades?
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's a great question. And you've also talked about the Biden administration's handling of religious freedom, particularly in terms of the FACE Act. Can you speak to that?
--:-- Kevin Roberts: Yes, the bad news, and it is bad news, but thankfully now good news story. The bad news is that under the Biden administration, the FACE Act was used to run roughshod over the right of pro-lifers to just be present peacefully at a safe distance outside abortion clinics.
--:-- John Bickley: That's a really disturbing example. And you've also talked about the importance of using the bully pulpit of the presidency to speak out on issues of religious freedom, particularly in terms of the plight of Christians in the Middle East. Can you speak to that?
--:-- Kevin Roberts: Yes, I think that's a really important role for the president to play. We have to make sure that the different parts of the administration, an apparatus like USAID, which thankfully is dying a well-deserved death, that through the State Department, that we're actually supporting religious liberty.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's a great point. And finally, you've also talked about the growth of Christian communities in Africa. Can you speak to that?
--:-- Kevin Roberts: Yes, I think that's a really hopeful trend. There's a real revitalization and expansion of Christian communities throughout Africa. And I think that's something that could have a positive impact on the continent and beyond.
--:-- John Bickley: Well, Kevin, it's been great having you on the show. Thanks for joining us.
--:-- Kevin Roberts: Thanks for having me.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And that was Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts. Thanks for listening to this special Easter edition of Morning Wire.
--:-- John Bickley: And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast and follow us on social media for more updates and analysis on the issues that matter most.
--:-- [Theme music fades in]
