For the United States Conference of Catholic bishops, religious freedom in the country is experiencing both highs and lows, compounded by social polarization over certain measures promoted by the Trump administration. The bishops’ conference published a detailed 2025 report, which begins as follows:
Many of the executive actions President Trump has taken have both positive and negative religious liberty implications.
The bishops view the administration’s opposition to certain gender ideologies in a positive light, particularly regarding concepts that go beyond the two biological sexes—male and female—and gender-transition treatments for children.
“Helping young people accept their bodies and their vocation as women and men is the true path of freedom and happiness.”
There is also a law from the 1990's, known as the FACE Act, that imposes fines or prison sentences on those who block access to abortion clinics or protest outside of them.
In 2025, Trump pardoned nearly two dozen pro-life activists, who have been convicted by the FACE Act, arguing that they were exercising their right to freedom of conscience by protesting in front of these centers. The US bishops acknowledged this action positively in their report.
What the bishops do see as negative—and this is nothing new—is Trump’s handling of immigration policy in the United States. As early as November, the USCCB had spoken out on the matter:
ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY BROGLIO
Former President, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
“We are saddened by the state of contemporary debate and the vilification of immigrants. We are concerned about the conditions in detention centers and the lack to access of pastoral care. ”
In fact, due to fear of ICE raids, the U.S.'s immigration enforcement agency, some U.S. bishops dispensed Catholics from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.
The report, in addition to analyzing the positive and negative aspects of U.S. government administration, also offers some advice on how to confront polarization and the lack of religious freedom:
But Catholics are called to be conformed to Christ, not to partisan political leaders, media personalities, and social media influencers.
The USCCB report maintains that a return to the American love for truth, human dignity, and the common good, especially during the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, will help defeat many of the threats against religious freedom and human life.\
CRT/CA
