End the delay: Confirm Sam Brownback

The Washington Examiner editorial sums it up perfectly:

The Senate has continued to delay the confirmation vote of Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback for the position of Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. Amidst emerging global crises, it becomes increasingly critical that Brownback be immediately able to move into the position, and begin his advocacy work. Further delay of Brownback’s confirmation not only risks lives, but delegitimizes American foreign policy abroad.

The position does not get much attention in the media, but is of critical importance. First created in 1998, following the passage of the International Religious Freedom Act, the Office of International Religious Freedom at the State Department has worked with countries to repeal, and stop the implementation of laws which impede religious freedom, as well as working to free people imprisoned and persecuted on account of religious beliefs. This office offers a key outlet within the State Department to pursue policy goals within a uniquely religious framework.

 The Pew Research Center has reported that “nearly 70 percent of the world’s 6.8 billion people live in countries with high restrictions on religion, the brunt of which often falls on religious minorities.” On top of this shocking statistic, the emergence of a series of current issues brings particular attention to religious freedom abroad.