Vice President Mike Pence, speaking at Liberty University’s commencement Saturday, warned that disparaging faith has become “acceptable and even fashionable” in America, and cautioned the newly minted graduates to “be ready.”
Noting the rising persecution of religion globally, Pence declared: “America needs men and women of faith and integrity now more than ever.”
“We live in a time when it’s become acceptable and even fashionable to ridicule and discriminate against people of faith,” he added.
Pence and his wife Karen, have experienced growing criticism in the media in recent months for their biblically based views.
Earlier this year, Karen Pence resumed her teaching career, becoming an art teacher at a Christian school.
The Vice President noted her decision drew “harsh attacks” from “the media and the secular left.”
He insisted that “These attacks on Christian education are un-American.”
“It wasn’t all that long ago,” said Pence, “that the last administration brought the full weight of the federal government against the Little Sisters of the Poor merely because that group of nuns refused to provide a health plan that violated their deeply held religious beliefs.”
Pence added that “throughout most of American history, it’s been pretty easy to call yourself Christian,” adding “But things are different now.”
Pence warned the graduates to “be ready” for opposition as they enter the workforce to live out their faith. And he pledged that the Trump administration will champion the free exercise of religion.
“I promise you,” he said, “we will always stand up for the right of Americans to live, to learn, and to worship God according to the dictates of their conscience,” he said. “No one is ever going to stop you from practicing your faith or from preaching what is in your heart, that’s a promise.”
Former GOP Rep. Dave Brat, the dean of Liberty University’s business school, noted Friday in an exclusive Newsmax interview that the commencement marks a new highpoint for the university that the late Rev. Jerry Falwell founded with the goal of “training champions for Christ” to improve the world.
Rev. Falwell envisioned creating a world-class educational institution that would ably represent the Protestant-evangelical community the way the University of Notre Dame had for Catholics.
The reverend’s son, Jerry Falwell Jr., has shepherded the university’s rise to national prominence. Like Pence, Jerry Falwell Jr. has been a frequent target for a national media frustrated by the unwavering loyalty of the president’s social-conservative base.
Liberty has emerged as the largest, private non-profit university in America, with over 110,000 students. About 90,000 of those students primarily matriculate online, although the university prides itself on engaging the online student with campus-based visits and programs.
Pence’s commencement address marked his second visit to the university. In October 2016, the then-Indiana governor spoke at the university’s convocation.
His appearance comes as Liberty seems to be advancing in every direction. The University’s men’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA Tournament this year.
The University is unveiling a new 80,000 square foot business school on Saturday. Work on a new engineering school is underway as well.
Business-school Dean Brat tells Newsmax: “It’s just a great celebration. Our online students come from all over the country, and we get to celebrate with everybody on our campus. So it’s just a great day.”
“I don’t think people will appreciate how great this university is until they see it with their own eyes, and what we have to offer,” he says. “… It’s just an exciting place to be.”
He adds: “The key to it is Jerry Falwell Sr. and Jerry Falwell Jr., who dedicated the school to training champions for Christ. And when you come on the campus, you’ll just feel this total positive energy that has made this place special for God.
“Everybody feels it. And once you feel that energy, people just love the place,” he said.
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