Patrick creates state committee on religious liberty

(The Center Square) – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Monday created a new state Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty. The committee will hold hearings and propose legislation about religious liberty topics, which he says Americans and Texans “don’t understand.”

He launched the committee after a national Religious Liberty Commission he chairs is being sued, alleging bias, a lack of religious freedom for members, and multiple federal law violations.

After chairing the national commission for the past year, Patrick said, “I have learned that many Americans, and Texans alike, do not fully understand their God-given religious liberty rights secured under the First Amendment. Today, I am appointing the Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty to find ways to educate Texans on their religious liberty rights and to make sure Texans do not have those rights infringed upon.”

All but one of the members he appointed to the state committee are Republican. All are Protestant Christians with the exception of two Roman...