Watching China's persecution should cause us to protect religious freedom in the U.S.A.

George Weigel's incisive commentary in the Washington Post, on the secret pact between the Vatican and China makes the case for unwavering resolve in protecting religious freedom against the powers opposing it--in this case, the Communist Party of China. In the U.S., the opposing power frequently is a formidable coalition of abortion rights groups, corporation heads, LGBT activists, entertainment moguls and academics.

The activists want to stifle religious opposition to their policy agendas, the academics consider religious belief illiberal, and the entertainment and corporate moguls aim to align profits with popular movements.
Attempting to deny freedom of belief, speech and exercise to one's ideological opponents suggests a fear that one's views cannot survive open debate in the public square. The drive to censor religious views also fails to calculate the cost that the suppression of religious freedom would inflict on everyone's rights to believe, speak and act freely. 

If today the government can shut down religious belief, speech and exercise, tomorrow the government can shut down any other belief, speech and exercise.

Just as we resolve to oppose China's ruthless suppression of religious freedom, so too we ought to advance religious freedom in our own country, regardless of our persuasions.