Senator Defends Christian Nonprofit after it was Called a ‘Hate Group’

Veronica Neffinger

Veronica Neffinger wrote her first poem at age seven and went on to study English in college, focusing on 18th century literature. When she is not listening to baseball games, enjoying the…
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Updated Aug 03, 2017

A Republican senator from Oklahoma, James Lankford, defended Christian legal organization the Alliance Defending Freedom after the group was labeled as a “hate group.”

An ABC News article referred to the ADF as an “alleged hate group” after Attorney General Jeff Sessions held a meeting with the group, which was not open to journalists.

Lankford told CBN News that referring to the ADF as a “hate group” is dishonest reporting.

“When ABC News came out and said there are individuals from the Trump administration meeting with a ‘hate group,’ it immediately makes you think, ‘OK. What is this hate group?'” the senator said. “And I look at the ‘hate group’ and it’s Alliance Defending Freedom, and I think, “That’s not a hate group, that’s a religious liberty group,’” said Lankford, as reported by The Blaze.

“That’s a group of attorneys just focused on how do you actually get religious liberty for every faith, or for people of no faith,” he continued. “That’s not a hate group.”
The ADF works to defend “religious freedom, sanctity of life, and marriage and family.”

Lankford challenged ABC to strive to report honestly:

“So initially, my challenge back to ABC News and their editorial team was, ‘Let’s all be responsible on what we’re calling hate and what we’re calling free speech, And just be able to honor differences of opinion.'”