Institute on Religion & Democracy Press Release
April 18, 2018
Contact: Chelsen Vicari, Cell: 540-239-2170, E-mail: cvicari@TheIRD.org
Washington, DC—United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Samuel Brownback will deliver the opening remarks at the Institute on Religion and Democracy’s “Global Christian Persecution Summit: Why Don’t Christians Care about Christians?” on May 10, 2018, on Capitol Hill.
Ambassador Brownback has been a fervent defender of the persecuted and oppressed long before his recent appointment to the U.S. State Department. During his 15 years in the U.S. Senate, Brownback and his staff crafted and supported key religious freedom legislation including the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, the Sudan Peace Act of 2002, and the North Korea Human Rights Act of 2004.
IRD’s summit is open to the public and will be held from 10 AM – 3:00 PM (EST) in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, room SD-G50. Please RSVP by Friday, April 20, to ensure your lunch and seat. To RSVP, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/global-christian-persecution-summit-why-dont-christians-care-about-christians-tickets-43888610014
Video of the event will be live-streamed on IRD’s Facebook page and made available afterward on IRD’s website.
IRD International Religious Liberty Director Faith J.H. McDonnell commented:
“We are so pleased that Ambassador Brownback is able to join us.”
“As a United States Senator, Sam Brownback was always on the front lines for defending the persecuted and the oppressed. Now, as the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, he has not changed!”
“From the late 1990’s onwards, IRD was privileged to work closely on human rights and religious freedom issues with Senator Brownback. In September 2002, then-Senator Brownback, along with the late Senator Arlen Specter, and U.S. Representatives Frank Wolf, Dr. Dave Weldon, and the late Donald Payne, spoke at IRD’s seven-day vigil for Sudan in a park just outside the U.S. Department of State, just weeks before the passage of the Sudan Peace Act. It meant so much to those gathered to have his support, especially the former Lost Boys and others who had fled from persecution and genocide in Sudan. I know that in his new role he is giving the same support and care to all those around the world who are persecuted for their religious beliefs.”
“As usual when IRD puts on a conference, this summit is jam-packed. We look forward to being challenged and encouraged by all the speakers. If you plan on coming, let us know now to ensure a seat and a lunch!”
Comment by Rev. Heidi McGinness on April 20, 2018 at 7:10 pm
This is so critical marvelous for the Persecuted Church and for all of Christendom. . Regrettably I
schedule myself tightly and can’t come because I am booked.
I so wanted to attend.