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How Much Does Your Congressman Really Care about Religious Freedom?

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WASHINGTON -- Many members of Congress say they fight for religious freedom, but when it comes to voting, they're not always there to stand up and be counted. Now, there's a tool that may put their feet to the fire.

Former Congressman Frank Wolf, R-Va., sometimes found himself a very lonely fighter when it came to battling for international religious freedom. His colleagues would talk a good game, but not actually support bills created to defend that freedom.

So, he and other advocates in the cause have come up with a congressional scorecard that will show how much of a priority individual lawmakers put on international religious freedom when it comes to actual votes.

It will also alert members about opportunities to support something like an expected vote on Christian genocide.

"If there's a vote on the genocide resolution, which I hope there is soon, everyone ought to know how their member of Congress voted on that issue," Wolf said of the scorecard. "So that's really the purpose of it, as an encourager."

Washington has often failed in the past to act against genocide and other crimes against religious people.

That's why advocates for religious freedom held a news conference Tuesday at the National Press Club to announce the scorecard idea.

"We know what ISIS is doing, so will Congress, will the administration, will the world miss it here?" Wolf asked.

Those at the news conference said churches and religious institutions need to pressure lawmakers and make sure they're voting to protect believers suffering from religious persecution around the world.   They suggested this new scorecard might help.

Wolf and the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative will grade congress members in July and January, giving them letters anywhere from A to F.

Visit the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative website to find out more on how you can help keep lawmakers accountable.

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About The Author

Paul
Strand

As senior correspondent in CBN's Washington bureau, Paul Strand has covered a variety of political and social issues, with an emphasis on defense, justice, and Congress. Strand began his tenure at CBN News in 1985 as an evening assignment editor in Washington, D.C. After a year, he worked with CBN Radio News for three years, returning to the television newsroom to accept a position as editor in 1990. After five years in Virginia Beach, Strand moved back to the nation's capital, where he has been a correspondent since 1995. Before joining CBN News, Strand served as the newspaper editor for