Bishop Robert Barron named to US commission on international religious freedom
President Donald Trump has appointed the bishop of Winona-Rochester to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, bringing the panel to nine members
Bishop Robert Barron has been named a commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent, bipartisan agency of the legislative branch. The appointment was announced Wednesday, September 16. Barron, bishop of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota and founder of the Catholic media organization Word on Fire, had served on the commission in an earlier term that ended in 2026.
In a statement posted on his social media accounts, Barron thanked the president for the appointment. "I am honored to accept President Trump's invitation to serve on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom," he said. Barron said the agency, created by Congress more than 30 years ago, advises both the president and Congress on defending and promoting religious freedom around the world.
Bipartisan makeup and Catholic commissioners
Barron said the commission is strictly bipartisan, with its members chosen by the leaders of the two major parties. He also named other "distinguished Catholics" who have served as commissioners, among them professor Robert George, Ambassador Mary Ann Glendon, Father Thomas Reese SJ, Archbishop Charles Chaput and Bishop William Murphy, and said he was glad to join that list.
Trump appointed Barron directly, along with pastor Andrew Brunson and Joe Grogan. The announcement came a day after Jane "Cissie" Lynch was nominated as acting ambassador for international religious freedom, a post that makes her an ex officio member of USCIRF.
Foreign policy priority
Asif Mahmood, chair of USCIRF, said the appointments were a decisive step toward advancing the human right to freedom of religion or belief beyond US borders. "USCIRF calls for a swift confirmation process for Ambassador-designate Lynch," he said, adding that "filling these roles demonstrates the continued commitment of the United States to international religious freedom as a foreign policy priority."
The other six USCIRF commissioners are appointed by the leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives. With Barron, Brunson and Grogan, the commission now has nine members. CeCe Heil, vice chair of USCIRF, welcomed the new commissioners and said that "with these appointments, USCIRF's bipartisan composition further supports our efforts to advance religious freedom abroad for all."
